Health secretary rejects return to negotiation

  The health secretary has rejected the chance to end next week’s planned strike action by dropping the threat of imposition. In a letter sent to Mr Hunt on Tuesday, BMA junior doctors committee chair Johann Malawana urged Mr Hunt to ‘make the right decision for patients, doctors and the long-term future of the NHS’. Mr Hunt announced his decision to impose the contract, in which doctors have no confidence, in February and junior doctors have now felt forced to take to the picket lines four times. Further industrial action, this time a full withdrawal of service by junior doctors in England, is planned for April 26 and 27. Dr Malawana said: ‘With a week to go to the start of the first full walkout of doctors in this country, I am writing to make a clear offer in a bid to avert industrial action. Simply put, if the Government will lift the imposition, junior doctors will call off next week’s strike action. ‘The imposition of this contract is tremendously damaging to the morale of junior doctors and medical students and has resulted in a complete breakdown of trust between doctors and the Government. It is this decision which has led to the current, lamentable situation, the resolution to which is now squarely in your hands.’   Watershed Dr Malawana added: ‘I believe that your decision in February to give up on negotiations and impose a contract, reiterated in the House of Commons yesterday, marks a watershed in relat...
Source: BMA News - Category: UK Health Source Type: news