The vast majority of junior doctors taking part in the BMA’s recent strike ballot (98%) voted in support of industrial action over the government’s threat to impose a new working contract, that many fear will take a significant chunk out of their salaries.
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But despite the fact that tomorrow’s industrial action – as well as two other strikes – will not go ahead as planned, they have not been called off completely.
Four days of talks between the BMA, Government officials and NHS Employers – hosted by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) – have resulted in the new tentative settlement.
Doctors are set to take action on three days over pay and working conditions, providing emergency-only care for 24 hours from 8am on Tuesday over planned new pay and working conditions being implemented by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
Negotiations will now continue over the next few weeks.
Chief executive Dorothy Hosein said today: “As always our primary commitment has to be to the welfare of patients and the priority during our contingency planning has been to ensure their safety and continued care”.
Cancelled operations for this afternoon are now being restored, with Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust approaching patients throughout the day.
Controversy centres around the proposed deal which would see junior doctors’ weekend pay rates cut in exchange for an 11% basic pay rise.
THOUSANDS of patients have had their operations and appointments cancelled despite a strike by junior doctors being called off – including a number in South Somerset.
The majority of outpatient clinics and operations were expected to go ahead at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals, said Dr Rob Parry, the medical director.
Under the revised plans, a higher rate would run from 10pm to 7am Monday to Friday, and from 7pm on Saturday evenings – a concession on the previous 10pm.
Mr Khalid said he has seen many junior doctors pack their bags in the United Kingdom and head to Australia, where he claims staff are paid better, and has pointed the finger at Mr Hunt for causing disillusion. One hundred and 20 patients – 10.7% of appointments on the day – have had appointments cancelled and will have them rescheduled.
She said junior doctors now saw themselves as the “first line of defence in a fight for the future of the NHS”.
Ministers drew up plans to change the contract of junior doctors in 2012 but talks broke down previous year.
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“We hope to start these talks as soon as possible in order to reach a collaborative agreement for the benefit of patients and the NHS”, he said.
