In the wake of the industrial action, Prime Minister Theresa May has accused the BMA of failing to put patients first and “playing politics” – but this is something doctors have denied.
Advertisement
“That’s equivalent to half a million – 500,000 – cancelled operations and four million lost outpatient appointments, so what we’re talking about is a completely unprecedented scale of disruption and negative impact on patients; it’s extremely worrying”.
The media attacks include exaggerating alleged “divisions” in the medical profession over the justification for strikes.
“We know there are genuine concerns about the contract and working arrangements but we de not consider the proposed strikes are proportionate”.
Mrs May said: “The Government is putting patients first, the BMA should be putting patients first – not playing politics”.
The opposition from senior doctors has raised questions over whether the industrial action will go ahead as some were expected to cover for the junior doctors during the strikes.
The Patients’ Association condemned the announcement, saying it was a “disturbing” time to be an NHS patient.
However, we shall still be able to provide a full service for patients needing urgent and emergency care.
“The public have the greatest sympathy for the medical profession and understand the hard job that they do, but this may take a step too far and could erode the public confidence and trust”.
A five-day strike by junior doctors will take place across England between 12-16 September due to the BMA’s ongoing dispute with the government over new contracts. She urged the Department of Health to resume talks with junior doctors “who are rightly concerned that new plans will risk patient safety”. A significant number of junior doctors, some 42 per cent, voted to accept the latest contract.
No figures are yet available for likely numbers affected in the North East but hospitals will be alerting patients as soon as their contingency plans – with patient safety at the top of the agenda – are complete.
The BMA wants to lift Hunt’s imposition of the work agreements, while the health secretary has promised to press on with the reforms.
He said: “The reason the strikes have been announced is the continued reluctance of the secretary of state for health to do anything other than impose a new contract on junior doctors, a contract in which junior doctors have demonstrated repeatedly that they do not have confidence”.
Voters aged 55 or over are opposed to the strikes by 53% to 47%, though there is stronger support for the junior doctors’ position among younger voters.
Advertisement
“We believe that progress was made during talks in May, so we are calling for the government to lift the imposition and restart meaningful talks to agree a contract that is adequately funded, fit for objective, delivers for patients and has the confidence of the profession”.
