Many more doctors would like to work part-time

This should boost the NHS workforce by doubling the numbers of part-time junior doctors in three to five years, says the British Medical Association.

Only one in 20 trains flexibly now, but half would like to.

Many are women with families, and demand for a better work-life balance is likely to increase, it said.

Pricey

Within the next 10 years, female doctors are set to outnumber men.

But NHS trusts can be reluctant to employ flexible trainees, arguing that paying them overtime for antisocial or "out-of-hours" work is too expensive.

This is because part-time doctors have been paid the same basic salary as a full-time doctor plus a supplement of between 5% and 25% on top if the work is out-of- hours.

Under the new contract, salary will be more closely based on total hours of work.

Flexible trainees will still receive supplements to recognise out-of-hours work.

We also expect NHS trusts to offer more family friendly training opportunities for full-time junior doctors Gill Bellord, head of pay and negotiations at NHS Employers

But their basic pay will be determined by the actual hours of work done and the supplement will be paid as a proportion of the calculated basic salary.

This should bring hourly rates of pay in line with those of full-time trainees.

Obviously, this would mean that some part-time doctors' wages would go down under the new scheme.

But the Department of Health has promised pay protection for these doctors so they do not lose out.

Those whose pay would not go up under the new system will have their pay protected at current levels.

Mr Simon Eccles, chair of the BMA's Junior Doctors Committee, said the new contract, negotiated by the BMA and NHS Employers, removed a large disincentive to work in the NHS.

"Poor work-life balance can be a nightmare for junior doctors.

"Many, especially those with families, would be forced to leave the NHS if they did not have access to flexible training.

"I am delighted that the NHS has made this commitment to retaining staff and improving junior doctors' working lives."

Gill Bellord, head of pay and negotiations at NHS Employers, said: "Improving the working lives of staff is vital to the NHS.

"This new contract will encourage NHS trusts to offer flexible training opportunities to more junior doctors who cannot work full-time.

"However, we also expect NHS trusts to offer more family-friendly training opportunities for full-time junior doctors, including help with childcare and the option of working hours to fit in with family life."