By Margaret Ryan BBC News Online

Consultant radiologist John Chandy is one senior doctor who could qualify for a career break under government plans to reward those who "do most for NHS patients."

He has worked in his field for 20 years so would be among those who would be eligible to apply for three months leave on full pay from 2005.

The plans are designed to stop senior doctors from leaving the NHS.

But for 57-year-old Mr Chandy the prospect of a sabbatical has come too late in his career.

"I wouldn't want to do that at this stage in my life. I am thinking now about retirement", he told BBC News Online.

Work abroad

However had the father-of-two been offered the chance of a sabbatical after 10 years he would have jumped at the opportunity.

"I would have gone abroad.

It would give you the chance to reflect on your position without having the pressure of juggling work commitments Dr John Chandy

"In America the advances in imaging techniques in the field of scanning are far ahead of the UK," he said.

He believes there are untold benefits for the consultants who take up the offer of three months away from their day job on full pay.

Dr Chandy, who is president of Hospital Consultants & Specialists Association, recognises that his senior colleagues would not only be able to refresh their skills but also achieve unfulfilled ambitions.

"It's up to the individual what they want to do.

"They might want to use their skills in working in Third World countries and this would be an opportunity to feel they were doing some good as well.

"Consultants would bring back those skills to the UK," he said.

He is convinced that for the scheme to work consultants should qualify sooner - after 10 years as a consultant - and be able to take shorter breaks of about six weeks at more frequent intervals.

Time for reflection

It would give people the opportunity to learn more about other health specialities within the NHS or do something completely different to offer them a new perspective on their job.

"It would give you a chance to reassess yourself and see what you want to do.

"It would give you the chance to reflect on your position without having the pressure of juggling work commitments."

Under the proposals 800 consultants will be able to apply in the first year with the government hoping to extend the scheme to younger doctors later.

A total of �15m has been allocated with the money to be given to hospitals to pay for locum cover.

Mr Chandy, who has worked at Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry for the past two decades, said this was the key to making such a scheme work.

"At the moment there is no opportunity to go on sabbatical and it is very difficult to find cover because of shortages in certain specialities".

Under the proposals for changes to consultants' contracts announced by the government on Thursday �250m will be given to NHS trusts who will decide with doctors how the money should be spent from April.

As to the wider implications of these changes, Dr Chandy said he would strongly object to a "piecemeal" introduction of changes to terms and conditions of contracts by individual trusts.