Mr Hopson said he could not guarantee that no patient would die in the event of an “all-out” strike which would see even emergency cover withdrawn.
Advertisement
The stoppage went ahead despite a last-minute plea from Prime Minister David Cameron, after talks between the BMA and the Government, through arbitration service ACAS failed to reach an agreement, after a planned strike was suspended previous year.
Trainee doctors in England will provide emergency-only care during the strike, similar to the medical service offered on Christmas Day in the country.
Danny Mortimer, the head of NHS Employers, which is representing the Government in negotiations, said he was “desperate” to avoid a repeat of the strike.
“We are also advising them that should the strike dates get postponed nationally at such short notice that we would have no chance of contacting them, then they should attend their appointment as normal”. But the British Medical Association has so far refused to agree to the request, arguing it is not clear whether it qualifies as a major incident.
Junior doctor Mary Gee, who is 18 months into her training, spoke to Key103 about why she is on strike: “I am here today because I think that this contract is fundamentally incredibly unsafe for patients”.
The BMA is also concerned that financial penalties faced by NHS providers for overworking doctors would be removed in the new contract and replaced by an inspection regime led by the Care Quality Commission. The BMA fears that proposals to change the maximum number of working hours per week will put patients at risk in the hands of over-worked, exhausted doctors.
The new contract forms part of Government plans to roll out a seven day a week NHS service.
Junior doctors range from professionals straight out of medical school to anyone with up to a decade of work under their belt.
“It is time for this government to apologize to junior doctors and negotiate a fair deal that gets our NHS working again”, he said.
Hospital consultants, Global Positioning System and other staff, including nurses and midwives are in work.
An “all-out” strike is planned for 10 February. As ever, the safety and care of patients is our top priority and the NHS has robust plans in place to ensure those who need emergency treatment will continue to receive it.
Advertisement
This is the first strike by junior doctors over pay and conditions since 1975, although they were involved in a 2012 walkout over pensions.
