Doctors urged to back action over fees

DOCTORS are being urged by the British Medical Association to take industrial action that could hit the disabled and child protection services.

It is the first time in almost 20 years that doctors have been advised to take industrial action. It comes over the refusal of government departments and local authorities to honour new fees for part-time non- National Health Service work which the BMA agreed with the Treasury last year.

Unless the departments pay up, the BMA is advising its members that from 1 April they should not undertake work which includes medical and disability appeal tribunals, invalidity benefit examinations, mental health review tribunals and reports for social services departments, including child protection work.

The move is the result of a dispute over the refusal of the Department of Health, the Department of Social Security, the Benefits Agency and local authorities to honour new fees which the BMA agreed with the Treasury last year.

Peter Lilley, Secretary of State for Social Security, has taken the lead in rebutting the doctors' claim, arguing that his department operates in 'an open market' and that it has no difficulty getting doctors to work for it at the current fees.

Government departments say the Treasury guidelines are 'indicative', giving maximum fees which they are not bound to pay - although they have paid them in the past.

Dr David Pickersgill, chairman of the BMA's private practice committee, accused the departments of being 'frankly dishonest' in their interpretation of an agreement which had been 10 years in the negotiation.