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Junior doctor dispute 'to go to Acas' Junior doctor dispute 'to go to Acas'
(35 minutes later)
The government has agreed to talks at Acas in the dispute with junior doctors - and is now urging the British Medical Association to call off its strikes. The government has agreed to talks at Acas in the junior doctors dispute - but the strikes have not been called off.
The first of three days of industrial action is due to take place next week. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he was willing to go to the conciliation service after initially refusing when the strike ballot results were revealed last week.
BMA leaders had said they would be prepared to go to to the conciliation service when the results of the strike ballot were announced last week. He said the industrial action, which starts next week, should be cancelled to "avoid harming vulnerable patients".
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has now written to them confirming he is willing to go to Acas. But the British Medical Association said the strikes would take place.
He had initially said he would rather not enter talks as his door had remained open all summer. The first day of action is Tuesday, starting at 8am and lasting 24 hours.
But in a letter to BMA leader Dr Mark Porter he has now said it is "time to work together" and call off the strikes to "avoid harming vulnerable patients".
What is Acas?What is Acas?
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) is an independent body that can help two parties - normally an employer and union - resolve employment disputes. Acas is an independent body that can help two parties - normally an employer and union - resolve employment disputes.
There are several services offered, including arbitration where Acas is asked to make a decision in the dispute.There are several services offered, including arbitration where Acas is asked to make a decision in the dispute.
But the two sides involved here have been talking about conciliation, which means Acas is just being asked to host the talks rather than make binding recommendations.But the two sides involved here have been talking about conciliation, which means Acas is just being asked to host the talks rather than make binding recommendations.
Want to know more about the dispute?Want to know more about the dispute?
The first walk-out is due to take place on Tuesday 1 December, starting at 8am and lasting 24 hours. In a letter to BMA leader Dr Mark Porter, Mr Hunt said it was time to "work together".
The BMA has yet to respond. He said he was "disappointed" that the BMA had refused to agree to the offer he had put forward, adding "The extreme strike action planned in December poses a serious threat to that safety."
Mr Hunt's letter - seen by the BBC - says he is "disappointed" that the BMA has refused to agree to the offer he has put forward. But the letter does not make any mention of dropping his threat to impose the contract from next summer - a key sticking point for the BMA.
And it adds: "The extreme strike action planned in December poses a serious threat to that safety." That has prompted the union to refuse to call off the strike.
But it does not rule out imposing the contract if necessary - one of the key sticking points for the BMA. Mr Porter said: "We hope to start these talks as soon as possible in order to reach a collaborative agreement for the benefit of patients and the NHS.
"Importantly, Jeremy Hunt must finally remove his threat of imposition in order to defer Tuesday's industrial action."
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