Accept foundation programme offers in fight for NHS

  Medical students should take up foundation programme offers in order to join and fight for the NHS. The BMA is advising students to accept programme offers after a number of concerns were raised about whether doing so risked giving consent to a potential imposed new contract or undermining current junior doctors opposing the proposed changes. In an email to students this week [15 March], BMA medical students committee co-chairs Harrison Carter and Charlie Bell said that students should not be deterred from pursuing a programme place. ‘We strongly recommend that students accept their foundation programme offers from their placement schools. We have to be part of the NHS to make it better,' they write. ‘Accepting an NHS job doesn’t in any way imply you support the Government’s contract proposals. Any existing doctor will confirm that.   Picket-line support A third round of strike action took place over 9 to 11 March, with junior doctors providing emergency care only for a 48-hour period. Medical students have lent support to picket lines during previous days of action as well as attending meet the doctor events and engaging with the public over the juniors’ plight. Mr Carter (pictured above, right) and Mr Bell (pictured above, left) aid that while students were unable to take part in the current industrial action, those in education should not be afraid to take a stand over potential contract changes that would impact their futures. Th...
Source: BMA News - Category: UK Health Source Type: news