Brennan Report - Department of Health and Children

Appendix 7(vii)(viii)(ix)participating, as of right in the selection process for Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors,and in the selection process for such other staff as the employing authorities agree areappropriate, in in-service teaching and training of medical and other staff, in researchwithin the hospital and in administration outside the management of your own particulardepartment or unit of the hospital,participating in a process of clinical audit, which will preserve the confidentiality of thedoctor/patient relationship,providing information to (the employing authority) including data for hospitalinformation systems and service planning and for such other purposes as (the employingauthority) and you agree are appropriate.Consultant Time Commitment (Memorandum of Agreement – Section 2.11)Scheduled Commitment2.11.1 The time commitment contracted by a consultant will be expressed in terms ofnotional three hour sessions.2.11.2 A consultant's time commitment, which will be personally discharged, will bescheduled in sessions during the hours normally worked within the Monday to Fridayworking week. The requirement to personally discharge all of the commitment doesnot preclude the consultant from delegating aspects of his scheduled work while thetime commitment to (the employing authority) is being personally dischargedelsewhere.Consultants in Management (Memorandum of Agreement – Section 6.6)6.6 Consultants in Management6.6.1 For hospitals to operate in an efficient and effective manner it is necessary thatdecisions affecting patient care are taken as near as possible to the point of servicedelivery. Consultants need to be involved in the management process. Thisinvolvement commences with the consultant's responsibility to manage his ownpractice and will involve co-operation with colleagues and other health professionals,at department, unit, hospital or hospital group level, extending to involvement in themanagement of the hospital/hospital grouping through direct membership orrepresentation on the hospital Executive Management Board.6.6.2 Each hospital or hospital grouping will have an Executive Management Board, theprecise constitution and role of which will depend on the structure and size of thehospital or hospital grouping. It is equally necessary that sub-Board structures are putin place to assist in the management process. The recent experience of the pilotprojects in a number of hospitals confirms that the concept of a distinct unit,grouping the clinical functions together under the leadership of a selected consultant(e.g. a Clinical Directorate model), represents an effective model to facilitate theparticipation of Hospital Consultants in the management process.181