BMA junior doctor committee chair Dr Johann Malawana said: “Over the past few weeks, we have welcomed the involvement of Sir David Dalton in talks about a new junior doctor contract which recognises the need to protect patient care and doctors’ working lives”.
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The BMA previously suspended plans for 48-hour industrial action on January 26 on the basis that some progress was being made in the talks.
This will begin at 8am on Wednesday February 10 and end at 8am on Thursday February 11.
But last night it said the sticking point remained over the time at which premium hourly rates kick in at weekends.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is pursuing the changes to bring in one of the Tories’ key election pledges – a “truly seven-day NHS” – which means non-urgent procedures would be available every day.
The dispute is partially about pay but also about junior doctors having to work more unsociable hours than before for less pay.
But the BMA maintains that doctors would be paid less for working unsocial hours than they are under the current contract, with those working in specialties with a high proportion of weekend and evening working, such as emergency medicine, affected disproportionately.
The strike will go ahead after contract negotiations with the government broke down, the British Medical Association (BMA) announced yesterday (Monday). Furthermore, premium pay could start at 9pm Monday to Friday.
In new advice, it said: “The RCN is aware of members’ anger over proposed cuts to student funding in England and that some are considering walking out over the issue alongside junior doctors”.
Currently, 7pm to 7am Monday to Friday and the whole of Saturday and Sunday attract a premium rate of pay.
A No 10 spokesman said: “Clearly it is regrettable that the BMA has made a decision to proceed with further unnecessary industrial action”.
Shadow health secretary, Heidi Alexander, blamed Mr Hunt for the strike which she called “deeply disappointing”.
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The strike was originally to be the first-ever full walkout – meaning not even emergency care would have been provided, with consultants stepping in to cover.
