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We will fight contract imposition, says BMA | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Junior doctor leaders have promised to fight on after the government in England announced it will impose a new contract on the profession. | |
The British Medical Association said it was "considering all options" as the dispute threatens to escalate further. | |
It comes after Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he had been left with no choice but to act - just hours after the latest doctor strike ended. | |
The union refused to accept a final "take-it-or-leave" offer on Wednesday. | |
BMA GP leader Dr Johann Malawana said the contract was "flawed" and they had put forward a "fair and affordable" alternative. | |
"The government's shambolic handling of this process from start to finish has totally alienated a generation of junior doctors - the hospital doctors and GPs of the future, and there is a real risk that some will vote with their feet. | |
"Our message to the government is clear - junior doctors cannot and will not accept a contract that is bad for the future of patient care, the profession and the NHS as a whole, and we will consider all options open to us." | |
The stance raises the prospect of more strikes, while behind the scenes there has been talk of legal action, mass resignations and doctors refusing to sign contracts. | |
Ministers took the decision to impose the contract after their chief negotiator Sir David Dalton had advised them to do "whatever necessary" to end the deadlock. | |
He said the final offer which was made on Tuesday, on the eve of the strike, and rejected on Wednesday, when the walk-out was in full swing. | |
It included a concession on Saturday pay, which would have meant doctors working at least one in four Saturdays would get extra pay above the basic rate. | |
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Hunt said: "He (Sir David) has asked me to end the uncertainty for the service by proceeding with the introduction of a new contract that he and his colleagues consider both safer for patients and fair and reasonable for junior doctors. | Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Hunt said: "He (Sir David) has asked me to end the uncertainty for the service by proceeding with the introduction of a new contract that he and his colleagues consider both safer for patients and fair and reasonable for junior doctors. |
"I have therefore today decided to do that." | "I have therefore today decided to do that." |
But Shadow Health Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "This whole dispute could have been handled so differently. | But Shadow Health Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "This whole dispute could have been handled so differently. |
"The health secretary's failure to listen to junior doctors, his deeply dubious misrepresentation of research about care at weekends and his desire to make these contract negotiations into a symbolic fight for delivery of seven-day services has led to a situation which has been unprecedented in my lifetime." | "The health secretary's failure to listen to junior doctors, his deeply dubious misrepresentation of research about care at weekends and his desire to make these contract negotiations into a symbolic fight for delivery of seven-day services has led to a situation which has been unprecedented in my lifetime." |
How will ministers impose a contract? | How will ministers impose a contract? |
In theory, it's pretty easy. Junior doctors rotate through jobs quickly so within six months of the new contract coming into force in August 80% of medics would be on it. | In theory, it's pretty easy. Junior doctors rotate through jobs quickly so within six months of the new contract coming into force in August 80% of medics would be on it. |
Between now and then hospitals will have to review their rotas and staffing requirements, before sending out offers to junior doctors in May. | Between now and then hospitals will have to review their rotas and staffing requirements, before sending out offers to junior doctors in May. |
But the big unknown is how the British Medical Association and medical workforce will react. Behind the scenes there has been talk of more strikes, mass resignations and non-signing of the contract. | But the big unknown is how the British Medical Association and medical workforce will react. Behind the scenes there has been talk of more strikes, mass resignations and non-signing of the contract. |
Doctors have also warned of "brain-drain" with medics heading abroad, to other parts of the UK or into other sectors, such as the drugs industry. This, it seems, is unchartered territory - imposing a whole new contract on doctors is thought to have never been done before. | Doctors have also warned of "brain-drain" with medics heading abroad, to other parts of the UK or into other sectors, such as the drugs industry. This, it seems, is unchartered territory - imposing a whole new contract on doctors is thought to have never been done before. |
The junior doctors row explained | The junior doctors row explained |
Analysis: Time for the nuclear option? | Analysis: Time for the nuclear option? |
What exactly do junior doctors do? | What exactly do junior doctors do? |
How does your job compare? | How does your job compare? |
The government appears to be planning to impose the contracts from August. | |
Chris Ham, chief executive of the the King's Fund think tank, said no government has ever previously imposed a contract on junior doctors, and to do so would be a "huge risk". | Chris Ham, chief executive of the the King's Fund think tank, said no government has ever previously imposed a contract on junior doctors, and to do so would be a "huge risk". |
"As long as that public support for junior doctors remains in place, the government has an uphill struggle to persuade the public it's doing the right thing at the right time. | "As long as that public support for junior doctors remains in place, the government has an uphill struggle to persuade the public it's doing the right thing at the right time. |
"Nobody argues against seven-day working. But there's a really important discussion to be had about, will the junior doctors' contract really help that - or are other things far more important? The government really is entering very dangerous territory." | "Nobody argues against seven-day working. But there's a really important discussion to be had about, will the junior doctors' contract really help that - or are other things far more important? The government really is entering very dangerous territory." |