An overhaul of junior doctors’ expensive, complex weekend overtime rules is “one of many” unavoidable reforms and “throwing money at the problem is not an option”.
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The row broke out after the BMA warned, among other things, the new junior doctor contract could lead to the medics working more hours.
Junior doctor Rory Hicks, who works at Royal Oldham Hospital, said it’s a travesty for the NHS.
“Government ministers and junior doctors are locked in a dispute that could result in the first junior doctors” strike for 40 years, potentially endangering patients in the run-up to Christmas, says The Guardian.
The BMA has set out plans for a day of “emergency care only” action for 24 hours on December 1, and full walk outs from 8am to 5pm on December 8 and December 16.
“We are releasing this information at this early stage because we want to give as much notice as possible”, BMA council chairman Mark Porter said in an email to members.
“It sounds like an oxymoron when talking about industrial action, but we genuinely want to minimise any disruption to other NHS staff and, above all, to patients”.
The Government says the new contract will improve patient safety and increase cover at weekends.
Such action would hit the NHS during its most vulnerable time – when the start of winter start to put pressure on the NHS.
The Government wanted to restrict those hours, so the higher pay would only kick in after 10pm.
“I think it is not putting patients first, I think this will be highly unsafe for patients”, she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Friday.
A BMA spokesperson said: “No junior doctor, nor the BMA, takes the possibility of industrial action lightly”.
The BMA spokesman added: “The BMA is clear that we want to work with the Government to deliver a contract that is good for patients, junior doctors and the NHS as a whole”.
“We know this will have a huge impact on patient care and we urge the BMA to avoid putting patients and the NHS in this position by returning to talks with us”, said Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers.
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These include withdrawal of the threat to impose the new contract, proper recognition of unsocial hours as premium time, no disadvantage for those working unsocial hours compared to the current system, and no disadvantage for those working less than full time and taking parental leave compared to the current system.
