Talks to continue in bid to avert strike action by junior doctors

The minister took a new line this week however, saying he was happy “in the first instance” for his officials and NHS Employers, which negotiates on behalf of the Government, to commence talks with the BMA using Acas.

Doctors are poised to take action on three separate days, providing emergency care only from 8am on Tuesday, December 1 for 24 hours, followed by full walkouts from 8am to 5pm on December 8 and 16.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt agreed to talks in a bid to stop the strike, and negotiations began yesterday, after almost 75 per cent of 38,000 junior doctors responded to a ballot, with 98 per cent of them in favour, and just 546 of them opposing strike action.

Plans have been confirmed by the Isle of Wight NHS Trust to ensure minimal impact on patient care, in the event that industrial action by junior doctors goes ahead next week.

But the letter does not make any mention of dropping his threat to impose the contract from next summer – a key sticking point for the BMA.

The hospital now has 465 doctors of which 255 are junior doctors.

All doctors who are not consultants, including many with up to 15 years experience, are classified as junior doctors.

Mr Hunt previously tried to avert strikes with a fresh deal, including an 11% rise in basic pay.

Currently, 7pm to 7am Monday to Friday and the whole of Saturday and Sunday attract a premium rate of pay.

Northern Devon Healthcare Trust medical director, Dr George Thomson, said: “The Trust is experienced in ensuring our core emergency and urgent services continue during industrial action and we are thankful to our senior clinicians for their support in ensuring A&E, inpatient, maternity, intensive care and urgent care services will be unaffected by the strike action to ensure safe patient care is not compromised”.

For interviews with junior doctors planning industrial action see today’s (Friday, November 27) issue of the Isle of Wight County Press.

The BMA has said the increase in basic pay is misleading due to the changes to pay for unsocial hours.

A South West MP said the doctors should hold back.

Dr Porter said: “It is encouraging that Jeremy Hunt has made a significant shift in accepting the BMA’s offer of conciliatory talks through Acas, finally recognising the fact that trust has broken down between junior doctors and the Government”.

They say they have been able to ensure that no planned (elective) operations have had to be rescheduled and all clinics will run as normal, although some will have a reduced number of patients.

The BMA has said the planned action on Tuesday would proceed as planned unless the Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, drops the contract imposition threat.