Contract imposition 'unworkable'

Senior hospital leaders have revealed they fear an unprecedented crisis of morale and recruitment if they are forced to bring in the new junior doctors’ contract. The medical directors and other leading clinicians — without whose support, the contract could become unworkable — have issued a bleak assessment of unfilled rotas and a disenfranchised generation of doctors. One described it as a ‘disaster waiting to happen’. Umesh Prabhu, a medical director and expert on patient safety, said ‘morale has taken a huge hit’. He said it was imperative that health secretary Jeremy Hunt, who has resisted calls for further talks, met with doctors. ‘I think [Mr Hunt] should invite senior medical leaders to speak to him — these are good people. We all need to sit round a table and make the best of this contract and work out how to inspire juniors and make sure they are the future of this NHS.’ Dr Prabhu, medical director at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘We need to put the juniors at the heart of everything we do. That needs to be the attitude. It’s about inspiring and motivating not bullying. ‘Our HR director thinks we could sort it all out by speaking with the doctors. That’s how we should have done it. To be honest, morale has taken a huge hit. It’s going to be very challenging.’   Rota gaps A senior consultant at one of the largest hospitals in the country ...
Source: BMA News - Category: UK Health Source Type: news