Junior doctors strike: Action would 'harm vulnerable patients', says Jeremy Hunt

Strike action by junior doctors would be an “extreme” step that “will harm vulnerable patients”, Jeremy Hunt has said, after the doctors’ union laid out plans for three strike days during the height of the busy winter period.

If junior doctors vote to strike, a 24-hour action will take place from 1st December, with a walkout from all but emergency care, the British Medical Association has confirmed.

However, if the Government does not alter its position, two further strike days on the 8th and 16th December would see a full walk out of junior doctors from 8am till 5pm, including from emergency services.

The decision sparked a furious response from the Health Secretary who accused the union of threatening “totally unwarranted” action.

Dr Mark Porter, chair of BMA Council, said that junior doctors had been left with “no alternative” by the Government, who have refused to act on six demands the union says must be met before negotiations on a new junior doctor contract can recommence.

Junior doctors fear the new contract would see them working longer hours, as it proposes to remove financial penalties for hospitals that overwork doctors. While junior doctors will receive an increase in their basic pay of 11 per cent, their out of hours pay will be cut significantly. Mr Hunt has pledged to protect doctors’ pay, but only until 2019.

Dr Porter said information about the strike action had been released early to give hospitals and surgeries time to put plans in place.

Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, the body that had been negotiating the contract on behalf of the Government, said the action would have a “huge impact” on patient care.

“Employers across the NHS will be extremely disappointed and anxious about the difficult situation they will find themselves in to make sure work schedules are met and patient care is not compromised,” he said.

Mr Hunt said: “Threatening extreme action is totally unwarranted and will harm vulnerable patients. Refusing to talk to a government that wants to improve weekend care for patients and reduce doctors’ hours can only damage the NHS. Rather than striking the BMA should return to the negotiations they walked away from a year ago and put their patients first.”

Chief among the BMA’s demands is the removal of the Government’s threat to impose a new contract on junior doctors next year, rather than delay until an agreed settlement can be reached.