Junior doctors have called off plans to hold a series of five-day strikes, after concerns about patient safety.
The British Medical Association (BMA) announced that it has suspended industrial action which had been planned for October, November and December, following ‘vigorous, passionate and thoughtful’ debate today.
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.
The British Medical Association (BMA) announced that it has suspended further junior doctor industrial action in England
BMA junior doctor committee chair Ellen McCourt (pictured) said the decision had been taken ‘following a passionate, thoughtful and wide-ranging debate amongst junior doctors’
The strikes had been scheduled for October 5, 6, 7, 10 and 11, November 14 to 18 and December 5 to 9.
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’.
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The organisation said it still opposed ‘the imposition of the contract’ but said patient safety was doctors’ ‘primary concern’.
The Department of Health welcomed the suspension of strikes by junior doctors, saying: ‘The best way to rebuild trust now is for industrial action to be called off permanently in the interests of patients – and we urge the BMA to do so.’
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.
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.
She said: ‘In light of feedback from doctors, patients and the public, and following a passionate, thoughtful and wide-ranging debate amongst junior doctors, the BMA has taken the decision to suspend planned industrial action.’
She vowed ‘our fight does not end here’ adding: ‘We still oppose the imposition of the contract and are now planning a range of other actions in order to resist it, but patient safety is doctors’ primary concern and so it is right that we listen and respond to concerns about the ability of the NHS to maintain a safe service.’
Six strikes have already taken place across England during the lengthy dispute, causing disruption to hundreds of thousands of patients who have had appointments and operations cancelled.
Last week, junior doctors and supporters rallied outside the Royal Courts of Justice as they challenged the government’s plan for a seven-day NHS service
Dr McCourt added: ‘We hope the government will seize this opportunity to engage with junior doctors and listen to the range of voices from across the NHS raising concerns about doctors’ working lives and the impact of the contract on patient care.
‘If the NHS cannot attract and keep those doctors on whose dedication and professional skills it relies, there will be no recognisable health service in England.
‘Our fight does not end here. For many people this whole dispute has turned on how the NHS will assure quality care over seven days.
‘It has highlighted the need for an open and honest debate led by the BMA on how this will be achieved.
‘We call on our colleagues across the medical profession, other healthcare professionals, and the government and patient groups to engage with junior doctors on this.’
The strikes, which had been planned for October, November and December, will no longer go ahead
Former health secretary Lord Lansley had blasted the planned action by trainee medics as ‘unethical’, described the BMA’s actions as ‘nakedly political’ and condemned personal attacks on current Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
Earlier this week, he said: ‘The junior doctors’ dispute… it is in my view unethical to potentially inflict harm to patients in pursuit of what is a self-interested campaign.’
A first wave of strikes was supposed to start on September 12 but the union called off the first round of industrial action amid safety concerns.
In May, it looked as though a breakthrough had been reached in the dispute after both sides agreed to a new deal.
Then in July, the Government announced that it would impose a new contract after junior doctors and medical students voted to reject the deal brokered between health leaders and the BMA.
A first wave of strikes was supposed to start on September 12 but the union called off the first round of industrial action amid safety concerns
Doctors said the dispute hinged on how the NHS will assure quality care over seven days
In a statement, the BMA told members today: ‘After a vigorous passionate, thoughtful and wide-ranging debate this afternoon, the JDC has decided to suspend industrial action while planning other actions over the coming weeks.
‘To be absolutely clear, the JDC still opposes the implementation of the contract and the BMA.’
It said it would discuss action to be taken over the coming weeks, adding: ‘There are enormous challenges ahead of us and we will work tirelessly to ensure that we junior doctors have the support and respect in order to deliver the best possible service for patients and the best possible outcome for junior doctors.
‘We are – first and foremost – doctors. Our decision today serves to underline this and our commitment to our patients.
‘For many people this whole dispute has turned on how the NHS will assure consistent quality of care over seven days.
‘It has highlighted the need for an open and honest debate led by the BMA on how this will be achieved.
‘We call on our colleagues across the medical profession, other healthcare professionals, the Government and patient groups to engage with junior doctors on this.’