Dear
Member
We
welcome any feedback on the contents of this issue of Wairarapa Direct,
an occasional email publication supplementary to our national ASMS
Direct. You should soon receive
a copy of our ASMS DHB News reporting on what happened at the Joint
Consultation Committee on 21 April.
The main purpose of this ASMS Direct is to highlight two important
issues discussed at JCC meetings.
As
reported in the ASMS DHB News, progress has been slow on job sizing
(including the estimation of the average hours worked on rostered after-hours’
call rosters to which the enhanced time-and-a-half rate applies, backdated to
30 December 2005).
The
ASMS again reiterates that if you are not satisfied with your present job size,
you are encouraged to consider collegially and collaboratively with your
colleagues in your department or service whether you wish to seek a review of
the clinical and non-clinical duties (and/or after-hours call duties) of your
job size because it does not adequately and fairly
reflect:
·
actual
clinical duties and workload;
·
the
time needed for non-clinical duties not directly related to the care of an
individual patient (at least 30% of the time for the total job size (excluding
after-hours call and clinical leadership or management duties) should be the
norm); and/or
·
the
average hours actually worked when on rostered after-hours’ call duties,
including call-back and telephone consultations [it is these hours that the T1.5
is to apply].
If
you and your colleagues believe you are in at least one of these circumstances
and wish to have it addressed, if you have not already done so, you are
encouraged to start your preparation with your departmental/service
colleagues. The MECA strengthens
members’ rights over achieving a fair job size outcome. If you don’t take the initiative,
management is likely to, so it is best to get in first.
You
are referred to the ASMS Standpoint which provides the most authoritative
and practical guide on what is job sizing and how to do it. It has been mailed out to all members
and is also available on our website www.asms.org.nz. The December issue of The
Specialist also has further information on time for non-clinical
duties.
We
are now close to getting up and running this joint ASMS-DHB taskforce which is
to endeavour to develop agreed plans for staffing and the implementation of
professional development and education.
I encourage you and your colleagues to start discussing and preparing for
this. The next step is confirmation
of the composition and terms of reference of the joint
Taskforce.
Other
issues discussed and reported more fully in the ASMS DHB News
include:
·
Implementation
of the T1.5 rate for average hours worked on rostered after-hours
duties.
·
Organising
of clinical meetings and DHB committees (a very positive
development).
·
Internal
locum cover arrangements (the current provision is attached to the ASMS DHB
News).
·
RMO
MECA negotiations.
·
Evaluation
of working conditions, resources and accommodation.
·
Confusion
over so-called performance appraisal and progression through salary
scales.
The
next Joint Consultation Committee (JCC) will be held on Friday
21 July commencing at 10am.
The JCC is proving to be an important vehicle for constructive engagement
with senior management over issues of importance and relevance to the
ASMS.
If
you wish to join the ASMS team (more membership participation is encouraged)
please contact Dr Peter Smith or Konrad Schwanecke, or ASMS Membership Support
Officer, Kathy Eaden ke@asms.org.nz.
Kind
regards
Ian
Powell
EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR
Association
of Salaried Medical Specialists
PO
Box 10-763
Ph:
(04) 499 1271
Fax: (04) 499 4500
Email: asms@asms.org.nz
Thank
you for subscribing to our email news publication, Wairarapa Direct. This service supplements our newsletter
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at
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