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Junior doctors' strike: BMA totally irresponsible - Jeremy Hunt Junior doctors' strike: BMA totally irresponsible - Jeremy Hunt
(about 2 hours later)
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has accused the British Medical Association (BMA) of being "totally irresponsible" over a lengthy industrial dispute. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has accused the British Medical Association of being "totally irresponsible" over a lengthy industrial dispute.
The doctors' union had refused to sit down and talk about improving patient care and had spread "misinformation", he told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show.The doctors' union had refused to sit down and talk about improving patient care and had spread "misinformation", he told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show.
Mr Hunt wants to change junior doctors' contracts, which he says are "unfair".Mr Hunt wants to change junior doctors' contracts, which he says are "unfair".
The BMA said its door was open to talks and blamed the strikes on Mr Hunt's "shambolic mishandling" of the matter.The BMA said its door was open to talks and blamed the strikes on Mr Hunt's "shambolic mishandling" of the matter.
'Devalued''Devalued'
The dispute, which began in 2014 and centres around pay and weekend working, has led to strikes being held across England.The dispute, which began in 2014 and centres around pay and weekend working, has led to strikes being held across England.
The next is a 24-hour strike planned for Wednesday, when emergency care will only be provided from 08:00 GMT.The next is a 24-hour strike planned for Wednesday, when emergency care will only be provided from 08:00 GMT.
Asking by Marr about low morale among junior doctors, Mr Hunt said: "One of the reasons for that anger is that they were told by the BMA that their pay was going to be cut - it isn't.Asking by Marr about low morale among junior doctors, Mr Hunt said: "One of the reasons for that anger is that they were told by the BMA that their pay was going to be cut - it isn't.
"They were told that they were going to be asked to work longer hours - they aren't," he added."They were told that they were going to be asked to work longer hours - they aren't," he added.
"We are actually bringing down the hours that they work. And if you are told by your union that the health secretary wants to do these awful things - of course you are going to feel devalued.""We are actually bringing down the hours that they work. And if you are told by your union that the health secretary wants to do these awful things - of course you are going to feel devalued."
'Alienating a generation''Alienating a generation'
BMA junior doctor committee chairman Dr Johann Malawana said Mr Hunt was threatening to impose a contract that junior doctors had "roundly rejected".BMA junior doctor committee chairman Dr Johann Malawana said Mr Hunt was threatening to impose a contract that junior doctors had "roundly rejected".
"Junior doctors already work around the clock, seven days a week, and they do so under their existing contract," he said."Junior doctors already work around the clock, seven days a week, and they do so under their existing contract," he said.
"If the government want more seven-day services then, quite simply, they need more doctors, nurses and diagnostic staff, and the extra investment needed to deliver it.""If the government want more seven-day services then, quite simply, they need more doctors, nurses and diagnostic staff, and the extra investment needed to deliver it."
He went on to say the health secretary risked "alienating a generation of junior doctors and undermining the delivery of future patient care".He went on to say the health secretary risked "alienating a generation of junior doctors and undermining the delivery of future patient care".
Shadow health secretary Heidi Alexander said Mr Hunt was "insulting the intelligence" of junior doctors.Shadow health secretary Heidi Alexander said Mr Hunt was "insulting the intelligence" of junior doctors.
"This is a group of people who are incredibly intelligent, are able to make their own minds up, have read the proposals for themselves and have followed the negotiations very carefully," she told Sky News."This is a group of people who are incredibly intelligent, are able to make their own minds up, have read the proposals for themselves and have followed the negotiations very carefully," she told Sky News.
What is the dispute about?What is the dispute about?
The junior doctors row explainedThe junior doctors row explained
What exactly do junior doctors do?What exactly do junior doctors do?
How does your job compare?How does your job compare?