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New junior doctors' contracts will harm cancer care, warn oncologists New junior doctors' contracts will harm cancer care, warn oncologists
(35 minutes later)
Proposed changes to junior doctors’ working condition will have a damaging effect on cancer research and care in the UK, more than 150 oncologists have warned. Proposed changes to junior doctors’ working conditions will have a damaging effect on cancer research and care in the UK, more than 150 oncologists have warned.
The Association of Cancer Physicians, which represents medical oncologists in the UK, urged Jeremy Hunt to re-enter meaningful negotiations with the British Medical Association, after junior doctors voted overwhelmingly for industrial action this week. The Association of Cancer Physicians (ACP), which represents medical oncologists in the UK, urged Jeremy Hunt to re-enter meaningful negotiations with the British Medical Association, after junior doctors voted overwhelmingly for industrial action this week.
The ACP said the new contract, which would extend the normal working pattern in which doctors could be told to work their 48 hours, would specifically disadvantage cancer doctors in training. They wrote: “The increased out of hours work will reduce the cancer-specific training that junior doctors will be exposed to leading to less experienced consultants of the future. The ACP said the new contract, which would extend the normal working pattern in which doctors could be told to work their 48 hours, would specifically disadvantage cancer doctors in training. They wrote: “The increased out of hours work will reduce the cancer-specific training that junior doctors will be exposed to, leading to less experienced consultants of the future.
Related: Difficult questions to come for Jeremy Hunt and junior doctorsRelated: Difficult questions to come for Jeremy Hunt and junior doctors
“Years spent in research and innovation will no longer be recognised in pay advancement in the same way as service training years. Research improves patient outcomes and saves lives – 90% of oncology trainees undertake a period of postgraduate academic research, aimed at improving the treatment of cancer patients.“Years spent in research and innovation will no longer be recognised in pay advancement in the same way as service training years. Research improves patient outcomes and saves lives – 90% of oncology trainees undertake a period of postgraduate academic research, aimed at improving the treatment of cancer patients.
“The new contract would disincentivise many young doctors from following the academic training that is essential to maintain a skilled workforce that can, not just deliver new treatments, but develop them.”“The new contract would disincentivise many young doctors from following the academic training that is essential to maintain a skilled workforce that can, not just deliver new treatments, but develop them.”
The ACP added that a demoralised workforce, who receive a pay cut and unfair rates of remuneration for hours worked, would inevitably leave the NHS.The ACP added that a demoralised workforce, who receive a pay cut and unfair rates of remuneration for hours worked, would inevitably leave the NHS.
“This will put increasing pressure on already stretched services. As the number of patients with cancer increases, the grave concern is that we will be unable to train enough of the best doctors to become oncology specialists and therefore we will be unable to reduce the disparities in the outcomes of oncology patients seen when compared to those in Europe,” the ACP wrote.“This will put increasing pressure on already stretched services. As the number of patients with cancer increases, the grave concern is that we will be unable to train enough of the best doctors to become oncology specialists and therefore we will be unable to reduce the disparities in the outcomes of oncology patients seen when compared to those in Europe,” the ACP wrote.
Related: Junior doctors' strike 'puts 60,000 operations a day at risk'
Furthermore, it wrote, the unfair disadvantage for those wishing to take parental leave and work less than full-time would harm oncology more than many other specialties, as women made up two thirds of the medical oncology trainee workforce.Furthermore, it wrote, the unfair disadvantage for those wishing to take parental leave and work less than full-time would harm oncology more than many other specialties, as women made up two thirds of the medical oncology trainee workforce.
Though medical oncology is one of the fastest growing specialties in the UK, Britain has fewer cancer specialists per head of population than other western European countries and North America, and cancer outcomes still lag behind many other developed states.Though medical oncology is one of the fastest growing specialties in the UK, Britain has fewer cancer specialists per head of population than other western European countries and North America, and cancer outcomes still lag behind many other developed states.
In a recent ACP survey of oncology trainees, 70% of respondents said they would consider leaving the profession if the proposed contract was imposed. Of the 138 (60% of total) trainees polled, 98% said they feared the contract would have a detrimental impact on patient care.In a recent ACP survey of oncology trainees, 70% of respondents said they would consider leaving the profession if the proposed contract was imposed. Of the 138 (60% of total) trainees polled, 98% said they feared the contract would have a detrimental impact on patient care.
The ACP’s executive committee chairman, Prof Johnathan Joffe said: “The potential effect the new contractual changes will have on the recruitment, retention and training of oncology doctors, the development of the specialty and most importantly on the care of our patients are something we can ill afford and is of grave concern. The proposed contract as it stands will be a step back towards poorer patient care and will disadvantage our cancer patients.”The ACP’s executive committee chairman, Prof Johnathan Joffe said: “The potential effect the new contractual changes will have on the recruitment, retention and training of oncology doctors, the development of the specialty and most importantly on the care of our patients are something we can ill afford and is of grave concern. The proposed contract as it stands will be a step back towards poorer patient care and will disadvantage our cancer patients.”
The ACP statement follows reports that Hunt has come under growing pressure to let independent arbitrators try to settle the junior doctors dispute.The ACP statement follows reports that Hunt has come under growing pressure to let independent arbitrators try to settle the junior doctors dispute.
Simon Stevens, NHS England’s chief executive, Prof Sir Bruce Keogh, its medical director, and chief nursing director, Jane Cummings, are among several senior figures who have privately told Hunt that he must do whatever is needed to restart negotiations with the doctors’ union to prevent the strikes by NHS junior doctors in England, planned for 1, 8 and 16 December.Simon Stevens, NHS England’s chief executive, Prof Sir Bruce Keogh, its medical director, and chief nursing director, Jane Cummings, are among several senior figures who have privately told Hunt that he must do whatever is needed to restart negotiations with the doctors’ union to prevent the strikes by NHS junior doctors in England, planned for 1, 8 and 16 December.