18.01.16
Cameron and Hunt repeat threat to impose junior doctor contract
Prime minister David Cameron has stepped into the longstanding junior doctor dispute, reiterating health secretary Jeremy Hunt’s threat that the controversial new contract will be unilaterally imposed even if the BMA rejects proposals.
In an interview today, Cameron said the government can’t rule out forcing the contract on doctors because it “can’t simply go into a situation where the junior doctors have a complete veto and block over progress in our NHS”.
“This is all a matter for discussion between the BMA and NHS authorities, but let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“If you rule out ever imposing a contract you’re basically giving a veto to the BMA over what the situation will be in future, and we can’t do that. We have a manifesto commitment to a seven-day NHS.”
But the prime minister acknowledged that the government is talking to doctors “in very good faith”, with 15 of the 16 sticking points allegedly resolved already. It has also recently tabled proposals to stop doctors from ever having to work two Saturdays in a row.
“I don’t want this strike situation to continue. What I want is what I put in our manifesto, which is a more seven-day NHS for which we do need some contract changes,” he said.
Junior doctors staged their first strike in over 40 years last week, with thousands setting up picket lines across the country. Shortly thereafter, the BMA and central government agreed to re-enter talks ahead of more planned industrial action on 26 January.
But despite the ongoing talks, Hunt came forward reiterating his former threat of taking what he called the “nuclear option” and imposing the new contract regardless of discussions. Speaking to the BBC, he claimed it was still possible, and still legal, to do so without the BMA’s signature.
In the short term, however, failed talks could still lead to three days of strike action: a 48-hour walkout of everything but emergency cover next week, and a day-long full walkout pencilled for 10 February.
When the last strike happened – a 24-hour walkout of everything but emergency care, the mildest of all three – NHS England said the action disrupted several parts of the health service, with thousands of postponed operations.
One hospital even attempted to order doctors back in through a day-old letter because of unusually high demand, but soon withdrew its request after the BMA argued the letter was politically motivated.
(Top image c. Andrew Matthews, PA Wire)