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| Junior doctors to escalate industrial action to all-out strike next month | Junior doctors to escalate industrial action to all-out strike next month |
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| The union which represents junior doctors has dramatically escalated its dispute with the government over new contracts by announcing a two-day, all-out strike at the end of April, in which even emergency cover will be withdrawn. | The union which represents junior doctors has dramatically escalated its dispute with the government over new contracts by announcing a two-day, all-out strike at the end of April, in which even emergency cover will be withdrawn. |
| The British Medical Association said that a previously announced strike by junior doctors between 8am and 5pm on 26 and 27 April would change from an emergency care only strike to a “full withdrawal of labour”. “This means that all junior doctors will not attend work, or provide emergency cover between those hours,” it said in a statement. | The British Medical Association said that a previously announced strike by junior doctors between 8am and 5pm on 26 and 27 April would change from an emergency care only strike to a “full withdrawal of labour”. “This means that all junior doctors will not attend work, or provide emergency cover between those hours,” it said in a statement. |
| The professional body said it was acting in response to the government’s refusal to back down on threats to impose a new contract on junior doctors, despite their objections. | The professional body said it was acting in response to the government’s refusal to back down on threats to impose a new contract on junior doctors, despite their objections. |
| But the Department of Health hit back, calling the action “desperate and irresponsible” and accusing junior doctors of “putting patients in harm’s way”. | |
| It is believed the action by junior doctors will be the first full walkout in the history of the NHS. | It is believed the action by junior doctors will be the first full walkout in the history of the NHS. |
| In its statement the union stressed that emergency cover would be provided by more senior medics. “It is important to remember that it is only junior doctors that are taking industrial action and so other doctors and healthcare staff will attend work as normal. Since the BMA has given employers the required seven days’ notice of this action, it is the responsibility of the employer to ensure a service is provided.” | |
| An additional walkout, covering emergency care only, is planned between 8am on Wednesday 6 April and 8am on Friday 8 April. | |
| Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, told parliament last month that he planned to impose the controversial new contracts on junior doctors from August, after two months of negotiations failed to resolve the bitter dispute. The contract will see Saturdays between 7am and 5pm become part of a junior doctor’s normal working week for the first time | |
| In a statement, a Department of Health spokesperson said: “This escalation of industrial action by the BMA is both desperate and irresponsible – and will inevitably put patients in harm’s way. | |
| “If the BMA had agreed to negotiate on Saturday pay, as they promised to do through ACAS in November, we’d have a negotiated agreement by now – instead, we had no choice but to proceed with proposals recommended and supported by NHS leaders.” | |
| Dr Johann Malawana, BMA junior doctor committee chair, said: “No junior doctor wants to take this action but the government has left us with no choice. In refusing to lift imposition and listen to junior doctors’ outstanding concerns, the government will bear direct responsibility for the first full walkout of doctors in this country. | Dr Johann Malawana, BMA junior doctor committee chair, said: “No junior doctor wants to take this action but the government has left us with no choice. In refusing to lift imposition and listen to junior doctors’ outstanding concerns, the government will bear direct responsibility for the first full walkout of doctors in this country. |
| “The government is refusing to get back around the table and is ploughing ahead with plans to impose a contract junior doctors have no confidence in and have roundly rejected. | “The government is refusing to get back around the table and is ploughing ahead with plans to impose a contract junior doctors have no confidence in and have roundly rejected. |
| “We want to end this dispute through talks but the government is making this impossible, it is flatly refusing to engage with junior doctors, has done nothing to halt industrial action and is wilfully ignoring the mounting chorus of concerns over its plans to impose coming from doctors, patients and senior NHS managers. Faced with this reality what else can junior doctors do?” | “We want to end this dispute through talks but the government is making this impossible, it is flatly refusing to engage with junior doctors, has done nothing to halt industrial action and is wilfully ignoring the mounting chorus of concerns over its plans to impose coming from doctors, patients and senior NHS managers. Faced with this reality what else can junior doctors do?” |