A major split has emerged within the British Medical Association over plans to introduce a new contract for NHS consultants.

The split, between junior and senior doctors, could derail government hopes of bringing in new working arrangements for consultants next year.

Members of the BMA's junior doctors committee have voted against the proposed package and have urged their colleagues to do the same.

We believe the implementation of this contract will be bad for doctors, bad for the NHS and ultimately bad for patients

Dr Trevor Pickersgill, BMA

Junior doctors make up one third of those who will decide whether or not to accept the new contract in the coming months.

The new package was agreed between the Department of Health and members of the BMA's consultants committee in June.

According to the BMA and Department of Health, the deal will boost the pay of senior hospital doctors by 20% while reducing the length of their working week.

The starting salary of consultants will rise from �52,640 to �63,000 as part of the package.

They will also be contracted to work 10 four hour sessions each week. According to the BMA, many now work in excess of 52 hours for the NHS each year but are paid for much less.

However, it also includes proposals which could see some consultants work in the evenings and weekends.

In addition it places restrictions on private practice for newly-appointed consultants. They will have to devote 48 hours each week to the NHS before they can treat patients privately.

But the junior doctors committee said the measures were a "charter for management abuse".

Members expressed concern about the redefinition of the working day, excessive management control, lack of recognition for part-time doctors and the differential treatment for consultants in their first seven years of practice.

Dr Trevor Pickersgill, chairman of the committee, said: "I have not met a single doctor who will vote in favour of this contract which we believe will be a charter for management abuse.

"It is discriminatory against part-timers and will allow trusts to force new consultants to work unsocial hours.

"We believe the implementation of this contract will be bad for doctors, bad for the NHS and ultimately bad for patients with further demoralisation of the workforce.

"We are therefore formally advising specialist registrars and consultants to vote 'no' in the referendum."

Influential

Mr Pickersgill's comments could be influential. An estimated 12,000 specialist registrars are eligible to vote in the upcoming ballot.

Although they are technically junior doctors, they are included in the vote because most will shortly become consultants.

An estimated 27,000 consultants are also eligible to vote.

Many are also believed to be strongly opposed to the package.

Dr Peter Hawker, chairman of the BMA's consultants committee and one of those who negotiated the new contract, was unavailable for comment.

He has previously hailed the proposed contract as a good deal for doctors and patients.

Shadow health secretary Dr Liam Fox described the decision as a "huge blow" for the government.

He added: "It is striking that the junior doctors have found so much fault with the contract. Ministers must be deeply concerned now at the depth of opposition.

"This is yet another example of how morale is at an all-time low amongst medical staff."