'Hot' refers to activities that are delivered by doctors all year round, including the cover of annual leave. This type of work is often referred to throughout the NHS as hot week, consultant of the week (COW/COTW) or a number of alternative names.
Unlike normal routine activity that is only delivered during the weeks in attendance, hot activity is worked across the calendar year meaning that doctors will need to swap with each other to maintain coverage – we refer to this as prospective cover. As a result, hot activities will attract a prospective cover uplift to the number of delivered activities reflecting this additional prospective cover.