Anaesthetists are being paid less for some work than an out of an hours plumber could expect to earn and lower pay is reducing the number of anaesthetists doing private work.
This is according to William Harrop-Griffiths, professor of practice (Anaesthesia) and consultant anaesthetist at Imperial College, London who spoke at the Independent Doctors Federation’s (IDrF) Private Practice Conference.
Pay rates by some insurers for private healthcare treatment have been a major concern for medical practitioners especially over the last two years with the IDrF launching a campaign to rebalance the relationship between doctors and insurers.
Citing the example of emergency laparoscopic surgery, Harrop-Griffiths claimed insurers could pay an anaesthetist anything between £222 and £230 for the two hours’ private work.
While that was less money than a surgeon could expect to be paid, Harrop-Griffiths maintained it was also less money than an out of hours plumber.
“I think we’re worth a little bit more money than an out of hours plumber,” he said.
“The rates for an anaesthetist in the independent sector are far from generous in many, many insurance-related work.”
No-one forces you to do private work
But he conceded there wqas no comulsion for anyone to take on private work.
“Nobody actually forces you at gunpoint to become an anaesthetist,” he continued.
“You only become an anaesthetist if you want to.
“Nobody forces you to do private practice. You do not need to do these things if you don’t particularly want to do.”
Impact of downward pressure on pay rates
Though Harrop-Griffiths warned downward pressure on anaesthetist pay rates has its consequences.
“If you don’t like the rates, don’t do the work,” he continued.
“And if you don’t do the rates, no-one does the work and then the rates will then go up, so I’m not saying we are badly paid,” he added.
“But fewer anaesthetists are entering the world of private practice – partly because of generational changes and lifestyle, but also because the relative rates are going down and down.”
Last year both Axa Health and Bupa made changes on the fees paid for medical procedures but while welcoming the move by Bupa for consultants, the IDrF said the rates remained “out of step with inflationary pressures and escalating operational expenses”.