Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has been widely criticised for his handling of the junior doctors’ contracts roll-out, which medics say will compromise patients’ safety and put undue burdens on doctors.
Advertisement
They are staging a walkout in line with colleagues nationwide between 8am and 5pm from Monday, September 12, through to Friday, September 16.
Katherine Murphy, of the Patients Association, said she was “gravely concerned” about the prospect of five days of strikes, which would have a “catastrophic impact”.
The General Medical Council (GMC) said the proposed strikes were “unprecedented” and warned about the impact on patients.
In a series of televised interviews yesterday, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt called the walkout “devastating” and the “worst in NHS history”.
In the wake of the industrial action Prime Minister Theresa May accused the BMA of failing to put patients first and “playing politics” – something doctors have denied. Hunt has vowed to impose a new contract on junior doctors in October despite the threat of further strikes.
The junior doctor’s protest began when the Department of Health announced a contract which could cut junior doctors pay by 40 percent and make them work much longer hours.
Ellen McCourt, the chair of the BMA’s junior doctors’ committee, said: “Junior doctors still have serious concerns with the contract, particularly that it will fuel the current workforce crisis, and that it fails to treat all doctors fairly”.
BMA chairman Dr Mark Porter denied they were “playing politics” and were simply trying to “express to the Government the lack of confidence of junior doctors in the contract” being imposed. We should be capable of better than this. “Above all else, the government and the BMA must appreciate they are in a privileged position”.
“Above all else, the Government and the BMA must appreciate they are in a privileged position: words seem to come easy and cost very little to them, but to the public it is costing them a great deal in lost working days, anxiety, pain and uncertainty”.
Earlier this year the BMA negotiated some concessions but in July 58 per cent of members rejected the deal and voted in favour of further action. “I think they are in a hard position as a trade union”.
What do you think of the junior doctors’ strike?
Employers felt the dispute had gone on too long. Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents the acute, ambulance, community and mental health services, said: “Junior doctors play a vital role in the running of the NHS”.
Advertisement
“We know there are genuine concerns about the contract and working arrangements, but we do not consider the proposed strikes are proportionate”. The statement also confirmed that further strikes were in the pipeline.
