- Jeremy Hunt was part of a two-day High Court hearing in London last week
- Campaign group Justice for Health claim he acted beyond his powers
- But the Health Secretary said the complaint should be dismissed
Stephen Matthews For Mailonline
2
View
comments
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will find out his verdict from the two-day High Court hearing last week
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is waiting for a High Court judge’s ruling after junior doctors complained he had wrongly imposed a new contract.
Campaign group Justice for Health claim he acted beyond the scope of his powers by compelling NHS employers to adopt the new terms.
But Mr Hunt says the complaint is without substance and should be dismissed.
Mr Justice Green, who analysed evidence at over a two-day High Court hearing in London last week, is scheduled to deliver a ruling tomorrow.
Justice for Health – founded by five junior doctors – says the contract put forward by Mr Hunt is unsafe and unsustainable.
Set-up by Dr Nadia Masood, Dr Ben White, Dr Fran Silman, Dr Amar Mashru and Dr Marie-Estella McVeigh – they say his decision to impose the contract lacks a sound or rational foundation.
Mr Hunt says he approved a new contract but has not imposed it on employers or compelled them to adopt it.
BREAKING NEWS: The world’s first ‘three-parent baby’ is…
The ‘ghost patient’ scandal: Family doctors are being paid…
Fillings which REPAIR tooth decay and protect against…
The brothers who play in the dark: Vincent and Zakkery’s…
The litigation follows opposition to Mr Hunt’s plans for seven-day NHS services in England.
Junior doctors began strikes, the longest of which has lasted two days, in January.
Justice for Health, a group founded by five junior doctors, says the contract put forward by Mr Hunt is unsafe and unsustainable
But the British Medical Association, which represents doctors, has suspended industrial action by junior doctors planned for October, November and December.
They cited concerns about patient safety as being the main reason.
News of the suspension was welcomed by the Department of Health, which urged the BMA to call off industrial action permanently in the interests of patients.
Dr Ellen McCourt, chair of the BMA junior doctors committee, said the decision had been taken ‘in light of feedback from doctors, patients and the public, and following a passionate, thoughtful and wide-ranging debate amongst junior doctors’.
The Government and BMA remain at loggerheads over the new contract for junior doctors, which the Department of Health says will help to provide a seven-day NHS.
Dr McCourt said the dispute hinged on how the NHS will assure quality care over seven days.
Share or comment on this article
e-mail
Most watched News videos
Oklahoma police deputy saves man from pit bull attack
Popular weather girl Daniela Crudu suffers wardrobe malfunction
Hillary calls Trump racist during the presidential debate
Drunk guy gets struck down in one punch by bouncer
Nervous college football player passes out on his first flight
Moment three-month-old baby girl tries on glasses for the first time
Impressive drop! woman drops sandwich threw a car sunroof
Beach towel prank sees man fall down a hole in the sand
Moment father of the bride drops wedding cake in shocking prank
Surveillance video shows Houston Officer beating man with baton
Man gets hit hard in the face by volleyball that knocks him over
‘Do you really need to ask?’: Trump online ad trolls Hillary
Majority of snap polls show Trump won debate by a landslide…
EXCLUSIVE: The house that Gawker bought! Hulk Hogan drops…
PIERS MORGAN: All the pressure is on Hillary tonight and if…
Keith Scott WAS carrying a stolen gun, police say – and his…
Clinton brands Trump a racist AND a sexist: Donald complains…
What was bugging Jose? Harrowing text messages reveal how…
Ready for the safari! Kate pairs a £400 Holland Holland…
‘I’m ready for where this journey is gonna take us…
The lady in red: Kate stuns in dazzling £1,000 Preen dress…
Proof that size DOES matter! Hillary gets customized podium…
Art scion, 46, weds billionaire’s daughter, 23, in $5m…
Blind hoarder is found to have unknowingly lived with…
Comments (2)
Share what you think
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Find out now