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| GMC says patients will suffer if junior doctors' strikes go ahead | GMC says patients will suffer if junior doctors' strikes go ahead |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The body that regulates the medical profession has warned that patients will suffer if junior doctors in England go ahead with a series of five one-day strikes next week. | The body that regulates the medical profession has warned that patients will suffer if junior doctors in England go ahead with a series of five one-day strikes next week. |
| The General Medical Council said the scale of the action, planned at such short notice, could not be justified. | The General Medical Council said the scale of the action, planned at such short notice, could not be justified. |
| The first of four five-day walkouts is due to begin from 12 to 16 September, with the last being in mid-December. | The first of four five-day walkouts is due to begin from 12 to 16 September, with the last being in mid-December. |
| Junior doctors are striking over a new contract which is being imposed. | Junior doctors are striking over a new contract which is being imposed. |
| The GMC has set out advice to doctors before next week's series of one-day strikes. | The GMC has set out advice to doctors before next week's series of one-day strikes. |
| Its chair, Prof Terrence Stephenson, said doctors have a right to strike but they must consider whether the action will cause significant harm to patients. | Its chair, Prof Terrence Stephenson, said doctors have a right to strike but they must consider whether the action will cause significant harm to patients. |
| The GMC will investigate any case where a patient has come to significant harm because of actions by a doctor. | The GMC will investigate any case where a patient has come to significant harm because of actions by a doctor. |
| Prof Stephenson told the BBC's Today Programme: "The idea that you can take a third of the workforce out of a busy emergency service for five days and have no consequences seems to me unlikely. | Prof Stephenson told the BBC's Today Programme: "The idea that you can take a third of the workforce out of a busy emergency service for five days and have no consequences seems to me unlikely. |
| "We are quite clear in our guidance that every single individual doctor most put their patients first. And we make it clear that they are personally accountable for their actions and must be able to justify what they did afterwards if allegations our made against them." | "We are quite clear in our guidance that every single individual doctor most put their patients first. And we make it clear that they are personally accountable for their actions and must be able to justify what they did afterwards if allegations our made against them." |
| He urged every doctor in training to "pause and consider the implications for patients." | He urged every doctor in training to "pause and consider the implications for patients." |
| Meanwhile, Chris Hopson, of NHS Providers, said: "The GMC is right to be 'extremely concerned' about the impact the series of strikes by junior doctors will have on patients. | |
| "We share the GMC's view that the scale of action planned at such short notice cannot be justified." | |
| Consultants will cover junior doctors in providing emergency care, as they did during two days of walkouts in April. | Consultants will cover junior doctors in providing emergency care, as they did during two days of walkouts in April. |
| Hospitals will see junior doctors stage walkouts from 08:00 to 17:00 from: | Hospitals will see junior doctors stage walkouts from 08:00 to 17:00 from: |
| The warning from the GMC comes after senior doctors last week urged the government and junior doctors to restart negotiations to avoid the series of strikes. | The warning from the GMC comes after senior doctors last week urged the government and junior doctors to restart negotiations to avoid the series of strikes. |
| While some medical colleges have said the planned strikes are disproportionate, others say they support the junior doctors' stance. | While some medical colleges have said the planned strikes are disproportionate, others say they support the junior doctors' stance. |
| The row over their pay and conditions has escalated into the worst industrial relations dispute in the history of the NHS. | The row over their pay and conditions has escalated into the worst industrial relations dispute in the history of the NHS. |
| The BMA has said the government could stop the strikes by calling off the imposition of the contract, which is due to be rolled out from October. | The BMA has said the government could stop the strikes by calling off the imposition of the contract, which is due to be rolled out from October. |
| But Prime Minister Theresa May last week told doctors to stop "playing politics" in the dispute and urged the union to cancel the strikes. | But Prime Minister Theresa May last week told doctors to stop "playing politics" in the dispute and urged the union to cancel the strikes. |
| The imposed contract | The imposed contract |
| How does your job compare? | How does your job compare? |
| Junior doctors have already taken part in six strikes this year, including two all-out stoppages. | Junior doctors have already taken part in six 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 the agreement of a new contract, which BMA leaders encouraged members to accept. | That resulted in the agreement of a new contract, 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. | 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. |
| 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 | |
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