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| Junior doctors must not block NHS progress, says Cameron | Junior doctors must not block NHS progress, says Cameron |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| David Cameron has repeated the threat to impose a new contract on junior doctors without their consent, arguing they cannot be allowed to “block progress in our NHS”. | David Cameron has repeated the threat to impose a new contract on junior doctors without their consent, arguing they cannot be allowed to “block progress in our NHS”. |
| In comments that risk further infuriating junior doctors, the prime minister said the government needed to reserve the right to bring in changes opposed by medics. | In comments that risk further infuriating junior doctors, the prime minister said the government needed to reserve the right to bring in changes opposed by medics. |
| His position echoes that of Jeremy Hunt; the health secretary said last week that the contract could be imposed as a last resort but he would prefer to come to a negotiated settlement. | His position echoes that of Jeremy Hunt; the health secretary said last week that the contract could be imposed as a last resort but he would prefer to come to a negotiated settlement. |
| Related: NHS: growing numbers of patients waiting too long for A&E | Related: NHS: growing numbers of patients waiting too long for A&E |
| Cameron told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We can’t rule that [imposition] out because we can’t simply go into a situation where the junior doctors have a complete veto, block over progress in our NHS. | |
| “But we’re talking to them in very good faith, I think we’ve settled 15 of the 16 issues that they raised, there’s an 11% basic pay rise on the table … and, for instance, we’ve just put on the table the idea no one should be asked to work two Saturdays in a row. | “But we’re talking to them in very good faith, I think we’ve settled 15 of the 16 issues that they raised, there’s an 11% basic pay rise on the table … and, for instance, we’ve just put on the table the idea no one should be asked to work two Saturdays in a row. |
| “I don’t want this strike situation to continue. What I want is what I put in our manifesto, which is a more seven-day NHS for which we do need some contract changes.” | “I don’t want this strike situation to continue. What I want is what I put in our manifesto, which is a more seven-day NHS for which we do need some contract changes.” |
| The government, NHS Employers and British Medical Association, representing junior doctors, are in talks to try to end the dispute, which led to a strike last week. They are thought to be hopeful of avoiding another strike planned for this month and a third, which would affect emergency care. | The government, NHS Employers and British Medical Association, representing junior doctors, are in talks to try to end the dispute, which led to a strike last week. They are thought to be hopeful of avoiding another strike planned for this month and a third, which would affect emergency care. |
| Last week, the BMA council chairman, Dr Mark Porter, said neither side wanted the dispute to go on indefinitely but urged the government to recognise the strength of feeling among junior doctors. | Last week, the BMA council chairman, Dr Mark Porter, said neither side wanted the dispute to go on indefinitely but urged the government to recognise the strength of feeling among junior doctors. |
| “We are prepared to speak to government at any time to try to resolve this on behalf of junior doctors,” Porter said. “But it is not just one remaining issue. There are some serious issues about patient safety and recognition of junior doctors’ contribution that need to be sorted here, and the very fact that government documents refuse to acknowledge those issues is one of the things that makes the dispute more difficult to resolve.” | “We are prepared to speak to government at any time to try to resolve this on behalf of junior doctors,” Porter said. “But it is not just one remaining issue. There are some serious issues about patient safety and recognition of junior doctors’ contribution that need to be sorted here, and the very fact that government documents refuse to acknowledge those issues is one of the things that makes the dispute more difficult to resolve.” |
| Related: Despite the junior doctors’ strikes, patients are with us | Anamika Basu | Related: Despite the junior doctors’ strikes, patients are with us | Anamika Basu |
| One of the main obstacles to a resolution centres on how much of the week should be classed as a junior doctor’s normal working hours, and thus attract only basic pay. Currently, junior doctors – anyone below the level of consultant – are paid extra for working after 7pm on a weekday and at any point over the weekend. Under Hunt’s contract extra pay would not apply until after 10pm on weekdays and after 7pm on Saturdays. | One of the main obstacles to a resolution centres on how much of the week should be classed as a junior doctor’s normal working hours, and thus attract only basic pay. Currently, junior doctors – anyone below the level of consultant – are paid extra for working after 7pm on a weekday and at any point over the weekend. Under Hunt’s contract extra pay would not apply until after 10pm on weekdays and after 7pm on Saturdays. |
| He has proposed an 11% rise in basic pay to compensate for this loss of overtime, but the BMA says junior doctors would still be up to 30% worse off. | He has proposed an 11% rise in basic pay to compensate for this loss of overtime, but the BMA says junior doctors would still be up to 30% worse off. |