Consultant Interviews and Appointments

Advisory Appointments Committees for Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons

Consultant appointments are governed by the NHS Appointment of Consultants Regulations 1996 and its accompanying guidelines164. It is, therefore, a legal requirement that all employing authorities (except Foundation Trusts) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland comply with these regulations. Since the introduction of Foundation Trusts in England, such organisations have the power to appoint Consultant posts following local procedures. 

Although the BOA recognises the right that Foundation Trusts have to do this, they also recognise the importance of the additional members of an appointment committee to ensure an open and fair selection process. The BOA expects all employers to appoint Consultant posts following these guidelines.

In summary, the minimum composition of the Advisory Appointments Committee (AAC), as governed by the statute, shall comprise a group of the following five core members:

• a lay member (normally the Chairman of the employing body unless a medical or dental practitioner)
• an external professional assessor, appointed after consultation with the relevant college (Royal College of Surgeons of England)
• the Chief Executive of the appointing body (or nominated deputy)
• the medical director of the employing body (or person who acts in a similar capacity at that hospital) 
• a Trauma and Orthopaedic consultant from the employing body. 

The statute also states that in the case of appointments to posts which have either teaching or research commitments or both, the committee must also include a professional member nominated after consultation with the relevant university.

The timeframe between shortlisting to interview and interview to being informed of outcome should be done in a fair and timely manner.

Short-listing of applicants should be carried out by at least two college representatives, if not all members of the AAC. Neither the Chief Executive nor AAC chairman has the right to exclude from the shortlist the names of applicants selected by the professional members of the committee.

The College Assessor, as the only external member of a Trust's Advisory Appointments Committee, has a key role in maintaining the standard of consultants appointed to practice and train in the NHS. Guidance for this role can be found on the Royal College of Surgeons website (https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/standards-and-research/support-for-surgeons-and-services/aacs/college-assessors/).

Advisory Appointments Committee Training

Members of the AAC should have had training in non-discriminatory interview and selection techniques. It is the responsibility of Royal Colleges and Faculties, Trusts and Universities to ensure that their representatives on the AAC have received such training. It is also the responsibility of individual potential members of AACs to attend such training as is required.