ABSTRACT
The Concise Oxford English Dictionary defines 'consultant' as a 'person consulted for professional advice, especially in a branch of medicine'. Private practice undertaken by whole-time consultants is subject to the 10" rule. In order to explain what this is it will first be necessary to explain the different types of National Health Service (NHS) contract and their effect on consultants' ability to undertake private practice. Whole-time consultants must certify annually to employing authorities at the end of the financial year that they have not exceeded the 10" limit. If a certificate is requested and not provided within three months, the employing authority may regard this as proof that private practice earnings are in excess of the 10" and take action accordingly. Consultants employed under the first option above are treated as part-timers by both the university and health authority and are not therefore subject to the 10" rule.
