With no signs of a resolution anytime soon, junior doctors in England have once again taken to picket lines across the country in protest against working and pay conditions being proposed by the government.
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We urge the Health Secretary to stop playing political games, step aside and let the professionals run the NHS by agreeing a decent deal with junior doctors.
A first 24-hour strike was staged on January 12.
The areas earmarked for the spend are electronic records and online appointments, prescriptions and consultations, which the NHS says will boost convenience for patients and help doctors speed up diagnoses.
LONDON (AP) – Thousands of junior doctors throughout England have gone on strike after the failure of contract negotiations.
A spokesman from North Bristol Trust said: “Junior doctors are due to take industrial action from 8am on Wednesday, February 10 to 8am on Thursday, February 11”.
A LEADING town medic believes Jeremy Hunt will be replaced as health secretary, as junior doctors plan a further day of strike action tomorrow.
The major problem between both parties concerns weekend pay and whether or not Saturdays should be considered as an ordinary day of the week or a day when overtime should be paid.
The fall-out centres on a new contract between junior doctors and the Government.
An offer from the Government in November said doctors would receive time-and-a-half for any hours worked Monday to Sunday between 10pm and 7am, and time-and-a-third for any hours worked between 7pm and 10pm on Saturdays and 7am and 10pm on Sundays.
His comments also imply that despite an investigation previous year by NHS body Monitor, rules targeting “off-payroll” staff appear not to have had the effect that the government desired.
How will Hull Royal and Castle Hill Hospital cope without junior doctors?
“By choosing the right health service from the start, patients will often be seen more quickly”.
“Junior doctors already work around the clock, seven days a week and they do so under their existing contract”. This is so that we can continue to treat patients needing emergency care and those needing urgent care, such as cancer patients.
Announcing the latest plans, Hunt said: “The NHS has the opportunity to become a world leader in introducing new technology – which means better patient outcomes and a revolution in healthcare at home”.
Dr George Findlay, medical director, said: “The safety of our patients is our number one priority and while we are doing all we can to maintain services it has been necessary to postpone some outpatient appointments, as well as day-case and inpatient operations”.
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“Rather than addressing these issues, Jeremy Hunt is instead ploughing ahead with proposals that are unfair and could see many junior doctors voting with their feet”.
