This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-37241267
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Striking doctors 'playing politics', says PM | Striking doctors 'playing politics', says PM |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The British Medical Association has been accused of "playing politics", by the prime minister, after the union announced a week of strikes in England. | The British Medical Association has been accused of "playing politics", by the prime minister, after the union announced a week of strikes in England. |
| Theresa May said the contract being imposed on junior doctors was "safe" and urged them to put patients first. | Theresa May said the contract being imposed on junior doctors was "safe" and urged them to put patients first. |
| It comes as hospitals are drawing up contingency plans for the five consecutive days of all-out stoppages, which get under way on 12 September. | |
| The BMA said it had no choice as its members were opposed to the contract. | The BMA said it had no choice as its members were opposed to the contract. |
| In her first public intervention on the dispute, the prime minister gave her full backing to Mr Hunt, saying he was an "excellent health secretary". | In her first public intervention on the dispute, the prime minister gave her full backing to Mr Hunt, saying he was an "excellent health secretary". |
| She called on the union to call off the strikes, adding that the NHS had "record levels of funding" and "more doctors than we've seen in its history". | |
| She went on: "The government is putting patients first, the BMA should be putting patients first - not playing politics." | |
| It came after Mr Hunt predicted the five days of strikes would "cause misery" for patients, with 100,000 operations and one million hospital appointments postponed. | It came after Mr Hunt predicted the five days of strikes would "cause misery" for patients, with 100,000 operations and one million hospital appointments postponed. |
| The all-out strikes will take place from 08:00 to 17:00 BST from 12 to 16 September with more expected to follow. | The all-out strikes will take place from 08:00 to 17:00 BST from 12 to 16 September with more expected to follow. |
| The plans being put in place by hospitals include postponing routine operations, such as knee and hip replacements, re-deploying consultants and nurses to urgent and emergency settings and cancelling study leave for other staff. | The plans being put in place by hospitals include postponing routine operations, such as knee and hip replacements, re-deploying consultants and nurses to urgent and emergency settings and cancelling study leave for other staff. |
| The worried patient | |
| Simon Emmet has a kidney stone and is waiting for surgery. He is meant to have it in the next four weeks, but is certain the strikes will push it back. | |
| "I can't see that the strikes won't delay my surgery. There are only two people at the hospital that can carry it out, meaning I already have a four-week waiting time. | |
| "I've been to A&E with abdominal pain twice in the last week. I constantly feel nauseous and I'm in constant pain. I have to take very strong painkillers which make me drowsy. | |
| "I work from home as an IT consultant and I have to balance taking enough painkillers so I can work through the pain but no so many that I'm too dopey to work. Often I end each day in so much pain that I just lie on the floor waiting for the next day's work. | |
| "I'd really like to believe the doctors have the patient's best interest at heart but it doesn't seem right. They've been arguing about this for three years." | |
| Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, said the strikes would have "a very serious impact on a very large number of patients". | Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, said the strikes would have "a very serious impact on a very large number of patients". |
| He said hospitals had only been given 12 days' notice, "which is much less than we've ever had before". | He said hospitals had only been given 12 days' notice, "which is much less than we've ever had before". |
| Katherine Murphy, of the Patients Association, said she was "gravely concerned" about the prospect of five days of strikes, which would have a "catastrophic impact". | |
| "Many patients may be very unwell or vulnerable, and, so, we cannot predict the distress or pain this will cause to everyone this will affect." | "Many patients may be very unwell or vulnerable, and, so, we cannot predict the distress or pain this will cause to everyone this will affect." |
| She urged the government to get back round the table and negotiate with the BMA. | She urged the government to get back round the table and negotiate with the BMA. |
| Dr Mark Porter, chairman of the BMA council, blamed the "continued reluctance" of Mr Hunt to do "anything other than impose a contract on junior doctors". | Dr Mark Porter, chairman of the BMA council, blamed the "continued reluctance" of Mr Hunt to do "anything other than impose a contract on junior doctors". |
| He said the BMA council was united behind junior doctors, but would not be drawn on how close the vote held by the governing council had been. | He said the BMA council was united behind junior doctors, but would not be drawn on how close the vote held by the governing council had been. |
| He told the BBC: "The reason this dispute has become protracted is not because anybody on our side wanted it to be protracted; it's because the single unifying thread throughout every part of this dispute has been the insistence of the government on moving ahead without agreement." | |
| Junior doctors have already taken part in six days of strikes this year, including two all-out stoppages. | Junior doctors have already taken part in six days of strikes this year, including two all-out stoppages. |
| Industrial action was put on hold in May when the two sides got back round the table at conciliation service Acas. | Industrial action was put on hold in May when the two sides got back round the table at conciliation service Acas. |
| That resulted in a new contract being agreed, which BMA leaders encouraged members to accept. | That resulted in a new contract being agreed, which BMA leaders encouraged members to accept. |
| But when it was put to the vote, 58% of medics rejected it, prompting the resignation of the BMA junior doctor leader Johann Malawana, and causing ministers to announce once again that they would impose the new terms and conditions. | |
| The imposed contract | The imposed contract |
| How does your job compare? | How does your job compare? |
| A new junior doctor leader, Dr Ellen McCourt, was appointed and, in August, the committee she leads called for the union's leaders to sanction fresh strikes. | A new junior doctor leader, Dr Ellen McCourt, was appointed and, in August, the committee she leads called for the union's leaders to sanction fresh strikes. |
| She told BBC Breakfast the new contract "is not good for our patients" and risked losing doctors from the profession. | She told BBC Breakfast the new contract "is not good for our patients" and risked losing doctors from the profession. |
| "We're devastated that the government has not listened to junior doctors," she said. | "We're devastated that the government has not listened to junior doctors," she said. |
| "They've not listened to the rejection of the contract and we've been left with no other choice than to take further industrial action." | "They've not listened to the rejection of the contract and we've been left with no other choice than to take further industrial action." |
| Dr McCourt said the contract, which will start being rolled out in October, "fails to treat all doctors fairly". | Dr McCourt said the contract, which will start being rolled out in October, "fails to treat all doctors fairly". |
| "This contract will be in place for many years; it will have a direct impact on patient care and whether we can attract and keep enough doctors in the NHS." | |
| Are you a junior doctor in England or are you a patient who expects to be personally affected by these strikes? Email us your thoughts on the new contract and strike action at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a telephone number if you are happy to talk to a BBC journalist. | Are you a junior doctor in England or are you a patient who expects to be personally affected by these strikes? Email us your thoughts on the new contract and strike action at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a telephone number if you are happy to talk to a BBC journalist. |
| You can also contact us in the following ways: | You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Read the terms and conditions. | Read the terms and conditions. |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |