Junior doctors strikes WILL go ahead as the BMA ignores pleas to scale down action

September 17, 2016

The British Medical Association plans a wave of damaging new strikes
5 day walk outs each month for the rest of the year will start in October
A strike planned this week was called off due to concerns over safety
Despite today’s talks the union said its position ‘has not changed’

Kate Pickles For Mailonline

Published:
12:10 EST, 14 September 2016

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Updated:
12:28 EST, 14 September 2016

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The first of a series of crippling five day strikes by junior doctors looks set to go ahead next month, despite fears over patient safety.

British Medical Association (BMA) leaders have been in talks today to discuss whether to call off the strikes planned between now and Christmas.

But a spokesperson said ‘the BMAs position has not changed’ and the industrial action will go ahead as planned.

Since January junior doctors have been locked in a bitter row with ministers over a new contract that will see them paid less for weekend work.

Junior doctors have repeatedly taken to the picket lines this year and will start a series of longer walk outs next month

The Government insists the revised deals are crucial to deliver a seven day service but junior doctors rejected a settlement brokered in the spring.

Last week Ellen McCourt, the chairwoman of the junior doctors committee at the BMA, announced a strike set for this week, would not go ahead.

Speaking at the time, she said: ‘We have to listen to our colleagues when they tell us that they need more time to keep patients safe.

‘We have also listened to the concerns of working doctors, patient groups and the public.

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‘Thousands of you have been in touch, your level of anger over the Secretary of State’s imposed contract remains high, but at the same time you want to keep your patients safe during industrial action.

‘The BMA is therefore suspending the industrial action planned for the week of 12 September. The remaining programme of industrial action stays in place.’

The decision comes after health leaders warned junior doctors who go on strike for more than two weeks could face competency assessments.

Prolonged industrial action could lead to a ‘loss of training experience’, according to the body which oversees education and training within the health workforce in England.

Health Education England (HEE) has said that if any trainee misses out on more than two weeks of training – or work days – then they could be red-flagged by the General Medical Council (GMC).

The bitter dispute centres around a new contract which will be imposed next month

The next action is scheduled for October 5, 6, 7, 10 and 11, November 14 to 18 and December 5 to 9, which will see junior doctors withdrawing from labour between the hours of 8am and 5pm, in the ongoing dispute over a controversial new contract for training medics.

The five strikes they have staged so far were limited to 24 or 48 hours and week-long walkouts would be much more disruptive.

Hospitals will be overstretched in the run-up to winter and the strikers might forfeit any remaining public sympathy.

Ministers had hoped to have finally settled the dispute in May when they agreed a provisional new contract with senior BMA officials.

But this was later rejected by the 50,000 junior doctors who are members of the union in a vote in July.

To their dismay, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt decided to impose the contract regardless and it is due to take effect in October.

Speaking previously, Joyce Robins, of the campaign group Patient Concern, said any further action would be at the expense of patients.

She said: ‘What they are proposing puts people’s lives in danger and you don’t expect that behaviour from doctors. People will die and people will suffer, and for what?

‘The public has been misled over this, it has been made to sound as though junior doctors are living in penury and being denied their rights, but actually they have already got most of what they asked for. It’s really very upsetting.’

WHEN ARE THE JUNIOR DOCTORS DUE TO BE ON STRIKE?

Junior doctors announced a new string of strikes ahead of a controversial employment contract being imposed upon them in October.

With some health professionals suggesting millions of people could face disruption as a result, we answer a few questions about patient cancellations.

When are the walkouts due to take place?

There are still three sets of walkouts currently scheduled over coming months, the first on October 5, 6, 7, 10 and 11, followed by November 14 to 18 and December 5 and 9.

How badly will services be affected?

The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced the strikes will see a ‘full withdrawal of labour’ which will lead to considerable disruption and other medical staff having to attempt to plug the holes in the workforce.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt estimated some 100,000 operations would be cancelled and more than one million appointments. NHS Providers, which represents NHS leaders, estimated it would be closer to half a million cancelled operations and four million appointments.

What should I do if I’m concerned about a cancelled hospital appointment or operation?

The Patients Association has advised contacting your local hospital’s admissions clerk to see if you’re affected – and how badly. It added that quick answers should not be expected, as many places will still be attempting to piece together their contingency plans following the announcement of industrial action by the BMA.

How long would I have to wait for my appointment or operation to be rescheduled?

According to NHS guidelines, these should be rearranged within 28 days of being cancelled. But, given the scale of strike action and the number of appointments which face cancellation, the Patients Association warned this could take longer.