Junior doctors to escalate industrial action to all-out strike next month

[TomandJerry]

The union which represents*junior doctorshas*dramatically escalated its dispute*with the government over new contracts by announcing a two-day, all-out strike at the end of April, in which even emergency cover will be withdrawn.

The*British Medical Association said*that a previously announced strike by junior doctors between 8am and 5pm on 26 and 27 April would change from an emergency care only strike to a “full withdrawal of labour”. “This means that all junior doctors will not attend work, or provide emergency cover between those hours,” it said in a statement.

The professional body said it was acting in response to the government’s refusal to back down on threats to impose a new contract on junior doctors, despite their objections.


Fully agree with the JD'S. .

 

[boik]

I feel like I instinctively want to support the junior doctors, but I'm a bit confused as to what the problem is. Basic pay is going up, the only people who will lose financially are those that specifically choose to work more antisocial than social hours. Trainees all to be paid the same depending on where they are in training rather than how long they've spent getting there. Maximum hours down from 91 to 72 hours in a 7 day period.

What have a missed? I see BMA references to removal of safeguards but without any details.

Don't jump on me for being anti JD cause I'm certainly not. Had an op on Monday and full of praise for the staff. I'd just like to understand a bit more.

 

[Ernest]

Strike whilst the Tories are in disarray, Hunt next to GO

 

[BLOCK F]

Disgraceful action by the BMA and the junior doctors.
Under no circumstances can this action be justified.
Make no mistake this is about politics and money,not patient safety.
The offer from the Government is pretty fair and any disagreements over fine details do not warrant this kind of action.
Patient safety, my arse, they won't even provide emergency cover.

 

[JC Footy Genius]

Fully agree with the JD'S. .

Hopefully you won't need emergency care on those days then or be in pain waiting for treatment that will inevitably be cancelled. Rather a risky escalation of their action in my view. It looks like the welfare of patients isn't much of a priority anymore.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

****ing chaos in the uk. Who voted for these clowns.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Disgraceful action by the BMA and the junior doctors.
Under no circumstances can this action be justified.
Make no mistake this is about politics and money,not patient safety.
The offer from the Government is pretty fair and any disagreements over fine details do not warrant this kind of action.
Patient safety, my arse, they won't even provide emergency cover.

The bottom line is its up the Hunt and the doctors to sort out. Its their dispute and up to them to decide if it's warranted or not.

 

[Perkino]

Hopefully you won't need emergency care on those days then or be in pain waiting for treatment that will inevitably be cancelled. Rather a risky escalation of their action in my view. It looks like the welfare of patients isn't much of a priority anymore.

Doctors are amongst the highest paid employee's in the country. With all sort of additional pay for working anti social hours. lots of jobs now operate a shift pattern to including such anti-social hours in order to avoid these payments and unfortunately the NHS are playing catch up.

The government have been working their way through all sorts of sectors and changing contracts to be reasonable and now the Doctors are gambling with patient care

 

[Diego Napier]

Disgraceful action by the BMA and the junior doctors.
Under no circumstances can this action be justified.
Make no mistake this is about politics and money,not patient safety.
The offer from the Government is pretty fair and any disagreements over fine details do not warrant this kind of action.
Patient safety, my arse, they won't even provide emergency cover.

There is no offer from the Government, it is being imposed.

What elements of the revised conditions that the Government is imposing do you believe are fair?

 

[Diego Napier]

Hopefully you won't need emergency care on those days then or be in pain waiting for treatment that will inevitably be cancelled. Rather a risky escalation of their action in my view. It looks like the welfare of patients isn't much of a priority anymore.

Senior doctors and nursing staff will deal with emergencies and pain relief.

 

[El Presidente]

Bloody murderers these doctors if you ask me, and Jeremy Hunt, who has PROOFED that more people die at weekends. AND they get loads of nurses too.

There's 1.8 million people unemployed in this country, just sack the lefties and replace them with people happy to do the job.

 

[happypig]

No-one will die because of this, cover will be provided by consultants and, if it came to it, do you really think doctors would stand on a picket line while someone bled to death in the hospital they are picketing ?

If Hunt is still so intransigent that he won't come back to the negotiating table, then Cameron should sack him. I fear he won't.

 

[Albumen]

It looks like the welfare of patients isn't much of a priority anymore.

Patient safety, my arse, they won't even provide emergency cover.

The Doctors are gambling with patient care

Utter rubbish.

 

[nicko31]

I blame Labour giving crazy pay rises to Labour when in power and now creating high expectations..

 

[El Presidente]

I blame Labour giving crazy pay rises to Labour when in power and now creating high expectations..

But there's still a shortage of doctors though, which doesn't suggest they are overpaid.

 

[boik]

So everyone's taken sides, but no-one can explain to me why? Seems trying to understand things isn't as popular as it should be.

 

[Lower West Stander]

I support them. My girlfriend is a nurse and no doubt they have a rough time and are over worked.

But - just don't strike in A&E. Putting people's lives at risk is morally wrong in my book and the militants could turn public opinion against them. This crosses the line between genuine grievance and politics.

Consultants can cover - but to me a strike in an A&E department just doesn't comprehend.

 

[seagulls4ever]

But there's still a shortage of doctors though, which doesn't suggest they are overpaid.

Isn't a lot of the shortage of doctors more to do with a lack of opportunities to train in this country rather than the disincentive of what may not be considered to be high enough pay?

Loads of straight-A students in this country miss out on the opportunity to begin a Medicine degree every year because the courses are so competitive. There might be good reasons why these students are rejected - but the shortage of doctors does not seem to be because of lack of people willing to become doctors.

 

[El Presidente]

Isn't a lot of the shortage of doctors more to do with a lack of opportunities to train in this country rather than the disincentive of what may not be considered to be high enough pay?

Loads of straight-A students in this country miss out on the opportunity to begin a Medicine degree every year because the courses are so competitive. There might be good reasons why these students are rejected - but the shortage of doctors does not seem to be because of lack of people willing to become doctors.

It's probably due to governments of all hues failing to invest in new medical schools and instead relying on short term solutions such as recruiting from overseas and making doctors work silly hours.

 

[seagulls4ever]

It's probably due to governments of all hues failing to invest in new medical schools and instead relying on short term solutions such as recruiting from overseas and making doctors work silly hours.

Yep - that's pretty much my point, just expressed in a different way!