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Junior doctors declare three 48-hour strikes

Junior doctors declare three 48-hour strikes

Junior doctors have defied the health secretary Jeremy Hunt by declaring 3 strikes to take place in March and April, the aim of these strikes being to seek a review of the governments plan to impose new contracts on them.

Dr Johann Malawana, who chairs the British medical association (BMA’s) junior doctor committee, said: “ If the government wants more seven-day services then, quite simply, it needs more doctors, nurses and support staff, and the extra investment necessary to deliver them.

 

Hunt said he believed junior doctors would come to see it as a good deal, arguing that the terms were “substantially closer to what the BMA were asking for”. The junior doctors were angry, he said, because they “are probably the hardest-working people in the NHS, working the most evenings, the most weekends and therefore they feel very stressed”.

Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, said: “It is disappointing that the BMA has decided to announce further industrial action despite the majority of the BMA’s concerns being addressed and reflected in the final contract. This disruption to patient care is unnecessary. I strongly believe that the final contract is safe, fair and reasonable. For the sake of the NHS, and patients I urge all junior doctors to take a look at the contract in detail before taking part in any future action.”

The BMA represents 38,000 junior doctors, 98% of whom voted to strike in the November ballot.