The Government is to force a new contract on junior doctors after negotiations over working hours and pay failed.

YESTERDAY: Junior doctors walk out for 24 hours as contract negotiations fail again

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced in the House of Commons today the new terms will be imposed by August 1, claiming the union representing doctors, the British Medical Association (BMA), had refused “point blank to discuss reforms, instead choosing to ballot for industrial action”.

Under the contracts junior doctors will get an increase in their basic pay, but will have to work more weekends. Guaranteed pay rises linked to time in the job will be axed and bonus pay for working unsociable hours will be curbed.

Mr Hunt said: “Our door remained open for three years and we demonstrated time and again our willingness to negotiate with the BMA on the concerns that they raised.

“However, the definition of a negotiation is a discussion where both sides demonstrate flexibility and compromise on their original objectives, and the BMA ultimately proved unwilling to do this.

“I do believe, however, that the process of negotiation has uncovered some wider and more deep-seated issues relating to junior doctors’ morale, wellbeing and quality of life which need to be addressed.”

The government’s chief negotiator Sir David Dalton yesterday advised Mr Hunt to do “whatever it deems necessary to end uncertainty for the service and to make sure that a new contract is in place”.

He also recommended an urgent review of “long standing concerns” be established to improve the welfare and morale of trainees.

Wimbledon Times:

The BMA, which staged a second day of strike action yesterday, has not ruled out further walk-outs. It said junior doctors “cannot and will not accept” the contract and will “consider all options” available to them.

Dr Johann Malawana, junior doctor committee chair, said: “The decision to impose a contract is a sign of total failure on the Government’s part.

“Instead of working with the BMA to reach an agreement that is in the best interests of patients, junior doctors and the NHS as a whole the Government has walked away, rejecting a fair and affordable offer put forward by the BMA.

“Junior doctors already work around the clock, seven days a week and they do so under their existing contract. If the Government want more seven-day services then, quite simply, it needs more doctors, nurses and diagnostic staff, and the extra investment needed to deliver it.

“If it succeeds with its bullying approach of imposing a contract on junior doctors that has been roundly rejected by the profession it will no doubt seek to do the same for other NHS staff.”

Yesterday junior doctors walked off the job for 24 hours in protest over the contract.

It was the second day of industrial action over the contracts, with an earlier strike held on January 12.

A planned strike on January 26 was called off when the BMA entered last-minute talks with the Government.