Government 'wholly responsible' for future industrial action

  The Government will bear responsibility for future industrial action by continuing to refuse to return to talks over the junior doctors contract, the BMA said. The warning comes after a story published by the BBC claiming that ministers will not back down over contract imposition. BMA junior doctors committee chair Johann Malawana has criticised the Government’s stance, saying that by rejecting a return to the negotiating table ministers would be ‘wholly responsible’ for any future industrial action. He added: ‘If the Government thinks that by sticking its head in the sand this dispute will end, it is very much mistaken. ‘By refusing to negotiate, it is wholly responsible for future industrial action. 'Patient groups, medical colleges, senior managers and the Government’s own safety adviser have all raised questions about the Government’s approach, yet still it refuses to listen.’   Unprecedented step The fourth round of industrial action by junior doctors in England began this week, during which staff provided emergency care only between 6 and 8 April. In the next round of planned action, junior doctors will embark on a full withdrawal of services between 8am and 5pm on Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 April, a move unprecedented in the history of the NHS. The BMA remains open to dialogue and the action planned for 26/27 April can still be averted through resumed discussions and by removing the threat of imposition, a...
Source: BMA News - Category: UK Health Source Type: news