Junior doctors have already taken part in six days of strikes this year, including two all-out stoppages, but it called off any further action in May in an attempt to thrash out an agreement.
Advertisement
GMC Chief Executive Nick Dickson said: “It is obviously a matter of great concern for everyone, especially for patients, and when so little time has been given for the NHS to make contingency plans”.
“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”.
“I urge BMA leaders to cancel this strike and instead sit down with the government to limit the harm to patients”.
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 BMA has rubbished suggestions that the vote by its council to approve the strike action was a knife-edge split of 16-14, saying it is “absolutely behind” junior doctors.
In a sign that support for junior doctors is wavering The Patients Association said it was “gravely troubled” at the “catastrophic impact” the industrial action will have on patients and their families.
He conceded there had been “long and hard debates” on the council, which brings together different parts of the medical profession.
Dr Porter said it was not the case that all GP and consultant representatives were opposed to the strike action.
The British Medical Association has announced a new wave of strikes by junior doctors in England over their contract, beginning with an unprecedented five-day walkout this month. “But this issue has gone on for too long now and further strike action will only bring more disruption to patients and frontline services”.
She says the new contracts are “safe”, adding: “The government is putting patients first, the BMA should be putting patients first – not playing politics”.
Labour leadership contender Owen Smith said Mr Hunt should be sacked.
He claimed the strike would cause “absolute misery” for patients and estimated the number of operations cancelled would be around 100,000, with one million hospital appointments being postponed.
BMA junior doctor leader Dr Ellen McCourt said the strikes would not go ahead if the government did not impose the contract.
Following the vote health secretary Jeremy Hunt announced plans to impose the contract.
Aaron Borbora, a Royal Liverpool doctor and deputy chair of the British Medical Association’s junior doctors committee, estimated that up to 5,000 Merseyside staff could walk out, and accused health bosses of “devaluing” weekend and other antisocial work.
“Secondly, we feel it’s important to note that we are neither a trades union nor a political organisation and it is not for us to take sides or be partisan in this argument”.
JUNIOR doctors in Worcestershire look set to stage further industrial action as the row over a controversial contract for junior doctors continues.
Support in the past has been strong in Salford for the junior doctors’ plight.
“The crisis in the NHS is deepening, with closures of hospitals and key departments across the country while almost all waiting times are rising”.
Advertisement
“If Theresa May was serious about prioritising the NHS she would be working to solve this dispute and properly fund our National Health Service”.
