News

22.04.16

Junior doctors considering indefinite walkout if strikes fail

Junior doctors’ leaders are considering an indefinite walkout or mass resignations to force the government back to the negotiating table in the escalating contract dispute.

E-mails between members of the British Medical Association (BMA) junior doctors’ committee (JDC), seen by HSJ, showed them discussing options including an indefinite strike, mass resignations of trainees, recommending junior doctors seek alternate careers, and ‘alternative forms of permanent action’.

Doctors have already escalated their tactics from 24 hour to 48 hour strikes, after health secretary Jeremy Hunt announced he was imposing the contract over their objections, and then to a total withdrawal of care affecting emergency services, due to start in Tuesday’s strike. Hunt’s legal power to impose the contract has now been challenged.

Ben Gummer, junior minister for health, said: “The BMA are now officially contemplating an indefinite suspension of potentially life-saving care. That will worry patients all over the country.

“This is evidence of an organisation in total disarray and the action proposed shows a regrettable disregard for patient care. For the JDC this dispute is now clearly political.”

The e-mails also show a continued refusal in the BMA to accept the contract or negotiate with individual trusts.

Dr Johann Malawana, chair of the BMA committee, said: “Let me be clear, junior doctors do not want to have to take any action. They would rather be in work, treating patients, but by refusing to get back around the table and address junior doctors’ outstanding concerns the government has left them with no alternative.

“What happens after next week’s action is entirely down to the government. No decision has yet been made about future action but junior doctors will, of course, have to consider what options are open to them if the government refuses to re-enter talks.

“The crucial message, however, is this: it is not too late to end this dispute and call off next week’s action entirely. For the sake of patients as well as doctors, the government must listen to concerns from all sides calling on it to lift imposition, sit down with junior doctors and end this dispute through talks.”

The BMA also published the results of a survey of medical students today, which found that 74.5% said they were more likely to pursue a career outside the NHS as a result of the contract, 72% said they were more likely to look for a job in the Welsh, Scottish or Northern Irish NHS and 82.9% said they were more likely to work outside the UK.

The survey also showed that 94% of respondents said the contract had made them less enthusiastic about working in medicine and 76.5% said they were less likely to recommend studying medicine to friends and family.

Health Education England data also shows that fewer junior doctors are being recruited into specialty medicine this year.

The Academy of Royal Medical Colleges also became the latest professional body to say the government should accept the junior doctors’ offer to call off the strikes if they resume talks, saying: “We urge the Government to accept this offer. Both sides must show a genuine commitment to reaching a negotiated settlement.”

The General Medical Council have issued guidelines saying that doctors should resume work if the strikes put patients at risk.

(Image c. Ben Birchall from PA Wire/ Press Association Images)

 

 

Comments

Malcolm Daw   25/04/2016 at 13:55

There is no way on this earth should the government let these so called Doctors hold the country to ransome. They call themselves health Professionals no way are they this.The BMA were given enough time (3 years) to agree a deal and wanted too much now they think they can achieve their demands by withholding treatment to their vulnerable patients who are sick.Watching these people on picket lines reminded me of the miners what did they get ....nothing.The government are aiming to improve the overall care 7 days a week available to all including children who do not understand what this is all about yes MONEY.Who paid for your education and Medical School not you so get back to your patients and do what you are handsomely paid to do. Mr Hunt must now introduce a no strike clause immediately for all of these so called doctors as the armed forces and police already have.Compare their salaries to the police and they are extremely well off.If the doctors don't like their deal or treating patients GET OUT now

John Knowles   25/04/2016 at 20:15

I could not disagree with the previous correspondent more . Whilst the principle of a fully operational Nhs hospital service 7 days a week is the right one , it cannot be done by forcing the additional workload onto the present level of staffing . GPs are in a similar dilemma , too much work and not enough Doctors in many practices .

Add your comment

national health executive tv

more videos >

latest news

View all News

comment

NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

23/09/2019NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

Reason to celebrate as NHS says watching rugby can be good for your mental ... more >
Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

21/06/2019Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

Taking time to say thank you is one of the hidden pillars of a society. Bei... more >

editor's comment

26/06/2020Adapting and Innovating

Matt Roberts, National Health Executive Editorial Lead. NHE May/June 2020 Edition We’ve been through so much as a health sector and a society in recent months with coronavirus and nothing can take away from the loss and difficulties that we’ve faced but it vital we also don’t disregard the amazing efforts we’ve witnessed. Staff have gone above and beyond, whole hospitals and trusts have flexed virtually at will to meet demand and pressures and we’ve... read more >

last word

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad, president of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), sits down with National Health Executive as part of our Last Word Q&A series. Would you talk us throu more > more last word articles >

interviews

Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

24/10/2019Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

Today, speaking at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) annual... more >

the scalpel's daily blog

Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

28/08/2020Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive, NHS Employers & Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Confederation The common enemy of coronavirus united the public side by side wi... more >
read more blog posts from 'the scalpel' >

healthcare events

events calendar

back

September 2020

forward
mon tue wed thu fri sat sun
31 1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11

featured articles

View all News