“We are now working on our specific plans for the forthcoming industrial action to ensure that disruption for patients is kept to an absolute minimum, and we will be drawing on our learning from previous industrial action as we work through the detail of these”.
Advertisement
The three extra strikes, on top of the confirmed five day strike beginning on September 12, are set to be the longest in the history of the NHS, if they go ahead, at 20 days in total.
It said: “We know there are genuine concerns about the contract and working arrangements, but we do not consider the proposed strikes are proportionate”.
“Despite our efforts to work with the Secretary of State to resolve this dispute, the Government has failed to listen, leaving us with no option but to take more industrial action”.
In addition, all of our junior doctors understand their obligations in this respect under the GMC’s Good Medical Practice.
The dates of the other proposed strikes are October 5-11, save for weekend cover; November 14-18 and December 5-9.
Chief executive Katherine Murphy told the Press Association: “From a patient’s point of view it is obviously catastrophic news – the scale of the industrial action is unforgivable”. However, we shall still be able to provide a full service for patients needing urgent and emergency care.
She said the health service was already “chronically understaffed” and faced bigger problems in Brexit and an ageing population.
“Up to now public sympathy has been with the doctors”.
The first five consecutive days of strike action will run from September 12-16, to be followed by five more in October, November and December, traditionally some of the busiest months with the rise of winter bug viruses.
McCourt added that the strikes could have been avoided, but that when she wrote to the health secretary a month ago outlining the reasons why junior doctors had rejected the new contract, she was ignored.
As the row intensified, the BMA published new guidance to striking junior doctors, informing them patient safety during the strike is not their “sole responsibility”. A significant number of junior doctors, some 42 per cent, voted to accept the latest contract.
Leaked Department of Health documents reveal that ministers have known since July that their plans for a “truly seven day NHS” without providing for additional staff and funds would cause “workforce overload” and could indanger the lives of patients – but the advice was ignored.
Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents NHS leaders, said the planned strikes could bring disruption to millions of patients.
A Department of Health spokesperson said in a statement: “As doctors’ representatives, the BMA should be putting patients first not playing politics in a way that will be immensely damaging for vulnerable patients”.
Advertisement
“If we’d seen some response or some movement then we could have said, well, the government do want to talk to us, they are willing to make changes without us again resorting to industrial action”.
