13.05.16
Junior doctors’ talks extended in ‘final opportunity’ to resolve dispute
Talks between junior doctors and the government in a bid to resolve a bitter dispute over antisocial hours pay are being extended to Wednesday after failing to reach a breakthrough.
The talks, encouraged by the Royal Medical Colleges, began on Monday after the lengthy dispute over the controversial contact, which has led to five junior doctors’ strikes and serious warnings about the impact on the NHS.
Sir Brendan Barber, chair of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), who is chairing the talks, said that although “real progress” had been made, the British Medical Association (BMA) and health secretary Jeremy Hunt had agreed to his suggestion that they extend the talks until Wednesday.
"This is a strictly time limited extension and represents a final opportunity to find an agreement as the basis for the resolution of this difficult dispute,” he said.
The content of the negotiations is being kept secret because both sides have been asked not to talk to the media in order to give the talks the best chance of succeeding.
As part of the extension of the talks, the government have renewed their commitment to suspend any action towards imposing the contract, while the BMA have renewed their commitment to suspend any decision on further strikes.
Professor Jane Dacre, president of the Royal College of Physicians, said: “As we have said many times before the RCP believes that negotiations are the best way to see this dispute resolved, therefore it is welcome that talks are continuing.
“A solution is needed, both for the wider NHS and the patients we care for every day.”
Stephen Dalton, acting CEO of NHS Confederation, added that the organisation’s members are supportive of the additional time and the efforts being made with Acas to try and find a “swift resolution to this dispute for the benefit of patients and staff”.
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