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Junior doctor meetings postponed, as Hunt invites BMA to talks

UPDATED 2:00pm

NHS Employers has postponed all of the meetings it was to hold with junior doctors over changes to their contracts, after the health secretary invited the BMA to discuss the plans. 

The organisation was to hold the first of a number of nationwide meetings today (28 September) to engage with junior doctors about proposals to update job contracts. 

But Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, says that the secretary of state has today written to the new chair of the BMA Junior Doctors Committee (JDC), Dr Johann Malawana, to invite him to a meeting to discuss the proposed changes to the junior doctors’ contracts.  

“Our preferred position has always been to negotiate with the BMA so we hope that today’s invitation will help to bring this closer,” he said. 

“In view of this development, we feel it would be premature to hold our open meetings in which we intended to hear junior doctors’ views. We have postponed all of our meetings with immediate effect, including tonight’s London event at Central Hall, Westminster.” 

But the BMA has already said that junior doctors across England will be balloted over taking industrial action in response to the government’s plans to impose a new contract from August 2016. 

Earlier this month, NHS Employers said it was “disappointed” that the BMA’s junior doctors’ committee decided not to re-enter contract negotiations, but the “reality” is that a revised contract will be given to all junior doctors whether they engage or not. But it insists no decisions have been reached on the final details and there is still a lot of scope for doctors to shape the contract. It wants to hear from the BMA and junior doctors about changes. 

But the junior doctor committee of the BMA will not re-enter negotiations unless its demands are met, principally that the government and NHS Employers withdraw their threat to impose a new contract. They also want the following concrete assurances: 

• Proper recognition of antisocial hours as premium time
• No disadvantage for those working antisocial hours compared to the current system
• No disadvantage for those working less than full time and taking parental leave compared to the current system
• Pay for all work done
• Proper hours safeguards protecting patients and their doctors 

The newly elected chair of the BMA’s UK junior doctors committee, Dr Johann Malawana, said: “We remain committed to agreeing a contract that protects against junior doctors routinely working long hours, delivers a fair system of pay and does not disadvantage those in flexible working and we will not stand idly by as the government imposes a contract which undermines that. 

“We’ve already seen reports of high numbers of doctors considering leaving the NHS to work abroad. These figures should serve as a serious wake-up call to the government that there is a real risk that junior doctors will speak with their feet. To lose a large swathe of doctors in the early stages of their careers would be a disaster for the NHS.” 

Over the weekend, in an unprecedented move, more leaders of medical Royal Colleges and Faculties expressed their concerns over the recent junior doctor contract proposals. The colleges, who have no responsibility for negotiating contracts, are concerned at the consequences of recent announcements on patient care and the future of medicine as a whole. 

They were following up on an open letter sent to health secretary Jeremy Hunt on 18 September, in which they said the proposals represent a “real” and “immediate threat” to the current stated priorities of the NHS, namely recruitment and retention of front line staff. The letter has since been signed by more medical leaders. 

Earlier today, NHS Employers had invited all junior doctors to attend face-to-face meetings where they could discuss the proposals. The meetings had over 3,000 junior doctors already set to attend, with more dates being added due to popular demand. 

The first meeting was due to take place today in London and was to be hosted by Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers. 

The meetings were set to discuss: pay levels/distribution; out-of-hours definitions; pay progression and levels of training and safeguards for safe working and learning. 

The following meetings have been postponed: 

• 28 September - Central Hall Westminster, London, 19:00 – 21:00
• 29 September - The Midland Hotel, Manchester, 19:00 – 21:00
• 1 October - Leicester Tigers, Leicester, 18:00 – 20:00
• 3 October - Webinar
• 13 October - Royal College of Surgeons, London, 18:00 – 20:00
• 14 October - Newmarket Racecourse, Newmarket, 20:00 – 22:00
• 27 October - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, 18:00 – 20:00
• 27 October -St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, 20:00 – 22:00
• 28 October - Horizon, Leeds, 18:00 – 20:00
• 28 October - Horizon, Leeds, 20:00 – 22:00
• 29 October - Hallgarth Manor, Durham, 18:00 – 20:00
• 29 October - Hallgarth Manor, Durham, 20:00 – 22:00
• 2 November - Jurys Inn, Birmingham, 18:00 – 20:00
• 2 November - Jurys Inn, Birmingham, 20:00 – 22:00
• 7 November - Webinar
• 3 November - Taunton Racecourse, Taunton, 18:00 – 20:00
• 3 November - Taunton Racecourse, Taunton, 20:00 – 22:00
• 9 November - Oxford Thames Hotel, Oxford, 18:00 – 20:00