Scottish Conservatives force U-turn from SNP on distinction awards

Nicola Sturgeon announced today that the Scottish Government will finally be putting a freeze on distinction awards paid to consultants.

In a move that could save up to two million pounds, the Health Secretary announced that the value of awards will be frozen for the next two years and by 2011/12 no new awards will be made.

Last week the Scottish Conservatives revealed figures that indicated the amount paid to NHS consultants in distinction awards had increased over the last four years from £23.4m to £27.9m – a rise of 19.5%.

Nanette Milne MSP, Shadow Minister for Public Health said:

"I am glad that the SNP Government has finally decided to tackle this issue that I had already brought up with the First Minister.

"The pressure the Scottish Conservatives have exerted on Alex Salmond has achieved direct results in forcing a complete U-turn from his Government. Only last week the First Minister incorrectly claimed that a lack of parity in distinction award payments would lead to an 'exodus' of Scottish consultants.

"I'm pleased that he has now taken our advice and changed his thinking in now freezing distinction awards – our priority should always be to look after the health of patients."

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