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Health secretary to meet doctors over contract row | Health secretary to meet doctors over contract row |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has agreed to meet junior doctors' leaders after the decision to ballot medics on industrial action over a new contract. | Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has agreed to meet junior doctors' leaders after the decision to ballot medics on industrial action over a new contract. |
On Saturday the British Medical Association announced it would be asking members in England about whether they wanted to take action. | On Saturday the British Medical Association announced it would be asking members in England about whether they wanted to take action. |
The dispute is over a new contract due to be introduced in August 2016. | The dispute is over a new contract due to be introduced in August 2016. |
Critics say it could lead to pay cuts of 15% with "normal hours" re-classed as 7am and 10pm Monday to Saturday. | Critics say it could lead to pay cuts of 15% with "normal hours" re-classed as 7am and 10pm Monday to Saturday. |
It means extra payments for unsociable working will only be given outside of these times rather than the current arrangements of 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday. | It means extra payments for unsociable working will only be given outside of these times rather than the current arrangements of 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday. |
The government has described the current contracts as "outdated" and "unfair", pointing out they were introduced in the 1990s. | The government has described the current contracts as "outdated" and "unfair", pointing out they were introduced in the 1990s. |
Ministers drew up plans to change the contract in 2012 but talks broke down last year. | Ministers drew up plans to change the contract in 2012 but talks broke down last year. |
The government has indicated it will impose the new contract next year in England, prompting the BMA to ask its 53,000 junior doctor members about industrial action. | The government has indicated it will impose the new contract next year in England, prompting the BMA to ask its 53,000 junior doctor members about industrial action. |
But Mr Hunt has now offered the BMA junior doctors' leaders the opportunity to meet this week to see if there is a solution to the dispute. The BMA has said it will meet with him. | |
Protest | Protest |
Scotland and Wales have said they do not want to introduce the changes, while Northern Ireland has yet to make a decision. | Scotland and Wales have said they do not want to introduce the changes, while Northern Ireland has yet to make a decision. |
Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, which negotiates contracts on behalf of the government, said he hoped the meeting would bring the two sides closer. | Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, which negotiates contracts on behalf of the government, said he hoped the meeting would bring the two sides closer. |
"Our preferred position has always been to negotiate with the BMA." | "Our preferred position has always been to negotiate with the BMA." |
An open meeting tonight held at Westminster's Central Hall in London between frontline junior doctors - as opposed to the BMA's leadership - and NHS Employers has now been called off. | An open meeting tonight held at Westminster's Central Hall in London between frontline junior doctors - as opposed to the BMA's leadership - and NHS Employers has now been called off. |
A protest at the venue by junior doctors is expected to go ahead however. | A protest at the venue by junior doctors is expected to go ahead however. |