30.03.16
Both sides urged to resume negotiations in junior doctors’ strike
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has, once again, urged both sides to resume negotiations in the bitter dispute over junior doctors’ pay and working hours.
In a sign of their continued defiance, the British Medical Association (BMA) announced last week that their planned 48 hour strike on 26 April will include withdrawal of emergency care for the first time.
The move comes following a series of 24 hour strikes, not including emergency care, which failed to resolve the dispute, leading to health secretary Jeremy Hunt imposing the contract.
The Academy said: “This is a time of unprecedented crisis for the NHS. With this in mind and in the spirit of placing patient welfare first and foremost we are writing in response to the escalation of the junior doctor's dispute in England.
“We call on both sides in the dispute to step back from the brink by suspending imposition of the contract and the all-out strike and urge a return to negotiations.
“We believe that this is essential if the current impasse is to be broken and progress made in resolving this extremely damaging stand-off for the benefit of all NHS stakeholders, particularly our patients and trainees.”
However, Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said: “Our members wanted a negotiated settlement to the junior doctors’ dispute. The escalation of the strike planned for 26 and 27 April to an unprecedented full withdrawal of labour makes this impossible.
“Whilst our members recognise the right of individual junior doctors to participate in lawful strike action, this escalation will affect patient care and benefit no one. We know that our members will be working with local doctors and other staff to ensure that the best quality of care possible is provided during all the planned strikes.”
(Image c. Ben Birchall from PA Wire)