The British Medical Association has announced a new wave of strikes by junior doctors in England this month – the first since its members rejected the government’s final offer on their new contract.
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Mr Hunt faced claims he could break the strike, which will run from 8am to 5pm for five days from September 12, by quitting his job.
The government says the new arrangements are part of its plan to bring in a safer and fuller seven-day health service, but the doctors say it will result in them working longer hours at antisocial times, putting patients at risk.
Ellen McCourt, chairwoman of the BMA’s junior doctors’ committee, said the Government had remained “persistently silent” on the issues that led to the rejection of the contract.
“Despite our efforts to work with [Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt] to resolve this dispute, the government has failed to listen, leaving us with no option but to take more industrial action”, the union said.
Jeremy Hunt announced in July that he would impose the new contract after junior doctors voted to reject a deal thrashed out by the government and BMA.
“Trusts will be working hard to minimise disruption, but many thousands of operations and appointments will need to be cancelled or rearranged causing distress, delay and pain to our patients”. “Confidential papers drawn up by the BMA have suggested there could be five days of strikes each month for the rest of the year”, reports the BBC.
“This is only going to increase if the Government and BMA don’t take this opportunity to resume meaningful and honest negotiations to prevent further industrial action”.
King’s Mill Hospital’s executive medical director, Dr Andy Haynes said: “Patient safety and welfare are our priorities”.
Jeremy Hunt compared himself to NHS founder Aneurin Bevan today as he refused a live radio call to resign amid fresh doctors’ strikes.
He said: “It has been well reported that demand in our hospitals has been high over the last few weeks and we are aware of the additional challenges this period of industrial action will present, so I would ask people to ensure they are prepared for any disruption”.
The Patients Association said the decision to strike had triggered “apprehension” among the public.
“We will be running as many outpatient appointments and planned operations and procedures as possible during the planned week of strikes, but some will have to be postponed and we are very sorry for the inconvenience this will cause”.
Dr McCourt said: “This is not a situation junior doctors wanted to find themselves in”.
That the dispute ever got so far shows how badly the negotiations were handled by both sides, in particular by the BMA and by NHS Employers.
“The BMA should be putting patients first – not playing politics”, she added.
He added: “I have to say it beggars belief that we can be accused of playing politics in this when the stated reason of the Government proceeding is that it was in their party manifesto”.
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Dr Porter said it was not the case that all GP and consultant representatives were opposed to the strike action.
