The BMA and health officials have been locked in talks with conciliation service Acassince Thursday, with behind the sacene discussions running over the wqeekend in a frantic bid to make progress.
Advertisement
Mr Hunt told the House of Commons’ hospitals had already cancelled operations ahead of the strike and NHS leaders still had to carry on making plans for a walk-out.
NHS England estimates that between 3,000 and 3,400 operations and procedures have already been scrapped for Tuesday – the first of three days of industrial action.
“At this point it will only impact on junior doctors but in the future it will be rolled out to consultants and more senior staff”.
But he explained that the Government must retain the right to impose its new contract, insisting that the BMA could not be given power to veto “over a manifesto commitment that has been endorsed by the British people”.
“We have worked with nursing and medical colleagues to put robust plans in place to ensure that the hospital remains completely safe during the proposed strike periods, and so we are confident that anyone coming to the hospital during this period will get the high quality, safe care they can expect from us”, he said.
Then two full strikes are planned from 8am-5pm on Tuesday, December 8, and from 8am-5pm Wednesday, December 16.
“This agreement is now sitting with the British Medical Association’s (BMA) Junior Doctors’ executive committee who will decide later today if they’re able to support it”.
All other patients should attend their appointments as scheduled, unless they have been informed otherwise by a member of trust staff. Critics say it will not only see their pay slashed by 30 per cent, but will also stop Junior Doctors being paid extra money for anti-social hours.
BOSSES at Musgrove Park Hospital have moved to reassure patients ahead of a planned strike by junior doctors – despite some operations and appointments being cancelled.
Mr Hunt previously tried to avert strikes with a fresh deal, including an 11% rise in basic pay.
Currently, 7pm to 7am Monday to Friday and the whole of Saturday and Sunday attract a premium rate of pay.
“Some elective surgery and non-urgent outpatients clinics have been cancelled”.
The BMA said the terms would cut overall pay in the long-term, and damage safety, by removing penalties for hospitals if doctors work excess hours.
Earlier this year Mr Hunt said a new contract would be imposed in 2016, if agreement could not be reached. More than 37,000 doctors were balloted. “We don’t want to strike”.
Advertisement
Army doctors were due to file onto wards to plug the holes, but the system was braced for chaos with patients left in limbo.
