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BMA cancels industrial action for junior doctors for 12-16 September
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The British Medical Association announced 5 September that it has cancelled the 5-day industrial action for junior doctors in the United Kingdom that it announced on 31 August would take place 12 September to 16 September from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The announcement came from Ellen McCourt, who is the British Medical Association (BMA) junior doctors’ committee (JDC) chair. However, McCourt said her video announcement, “The remaining program of industrial action stays in place.”
She continued, “This does not absolve the Secretary of State. He continues to ignore our request to stop the imposition. He continues to force upon junior doctors a contract that discriminates against carers, parents, doctors with disabilities and women; a contract that devalues our time and a contract that disincentives careers in our most struggling specialties. He continues to strive toward an uncosted, unfunded, unstaffed extended 7-day service. He continues to disregard the concerns junior doctors have about staffing shortages and patient safety.”
This latest intended industrial action came after weeks of talks and was the result of recent failed contract negotiations between the BMA and the National Health Service (NHS). According to information at the BMA website, the industrial action program for upcoming dates is unaffected by this announcement. At the moment, it includes 5, 6 and 7 October, with the weekend covered, with industrial action resumed 10-11 October, as well as 14-18 November and 5-9 December.
“Future action is, however, still avoidable,” McCourt said.
McCourt’s full statement can be found at the BMA website.
The British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) said in an announcement on 5 September, “The BOA is a strong supporter of both the junior doctors and the NHS. Following the recent contract consultation outcome and the junior doctors’ rejection of the terms proposed, we urged the new chair of the JDC, the BMA and the government urgently to return to meaningful discussions. Although relieved by the BMA’s decision to cancel the short notice strike called for 12 to 16 September, we deeply regret the Secretary of State’s decision to impose a contract on junior doctors and the consequent industrial action planned for October, November and December.”
The BOA statement mentioned concern about the disruption to thousands of patients who await planned orthopaedic surgery and the destabilizing effect of any upcoming industrial action later this year.
In January 2016, there was a 24-hour period of industrial action for U.K. junior doctors and then, after the doctors returned to work, discussions and contract negotiations resumed that involved the BMA, NHS Employers and the Department of Health.
References:
www.gov.uk/government/news/junior-doctor-contract-negotiations