Shropshire Star

Junior doctors' strike: Why this action is wrong, by health minister

Health minister Ben Gummer explains why he thinks junior doctors are wrong to strike and why change in the NHS is essential.

Published

Tomorrow junior doctors will begin unprecedented strike action at the urging of their union, the British Medical Association. That action that will see emergency cover withdrawn from our hospitals for the first time by half the clinical workforce.

While the NHS has been preparing over these past few weeks and consultants will provide cover, this will inevitably impact on patients.

In our manifesto, we made a commitment to delivering a safer, seven day NHS. Our aim is that everyone should receive the same quality of service regardless of whether it's 2pm on a Saturday or 2pm on a Tuesday. We want an NHS where it doesn't matter which day of the week you get ill – whether you need to see a consultant, have an urgent diagnostic test, or get the green light to be discharged from hospital.

Last month we announced the terms and conditions of the new junior doctors' contract – just one part of what we need to create a seven day service. This followed three years of talks, during which the BMA walked away twice and flatly refused to negotiate on the issue of Saturday pay.

I know there is a lot of anger among many junior doctors across Shropshire – in some ways inevitably given the BMA have told their members they would suffer a 30 per cent pay cut and then balloted for strike action before hearing the Government's proposals.

But in my view, this week's strike action is totally disproportionate – and even at the eleventh hour I would urge junior doctors to reflect before taking action.

The tragedy is that the Government has exhaustively pursued all options in our attempt to reach a negotiated agreement with the BMA. We have been talking to union leaders for years, holding over 75 meetings and making over 73 compromises within a contract that was 90 per cent agreed with the union.

It is not credible for the BMA to now call for imposition to be lifted when they refused to negotiate on the one remaining issue of Saturday pay that stood in the way of a negotiated settlement. We had no choice but to proceed with proposals that are a good deal for junior doctors and have been endorsed by NHS leaders.

The new contract is not a cost-cutting exercise. It will mean on average a 13.5 per cent basic pay rise and means no junior doctor working within contracted hours – that's 99 per cent of the workforce – will see a pay cut. Higher basic pay will also mean increased contributions to pensions and higher maternity pay.

The new contract will reduce the maximum number of hours doctors can work from 91 to 72 in any one week – supported by new safeguards to ensure a better work-life balance and a clear commitment to improve access to training and development. Pay increases will be based on successful progress through training and taking up a post at the next level of responsibility.

In short, this is fairer for junior doctors, safer for patients and will help to create a fully seven day NHS.

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