This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jan/19/saturday-working-is-major-sticking-point-in-junior-doctors-dispute
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Saturday working is major sticking point in junior doctors' dispute | |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| A row over whether Saturdays should become part of NHS junior doctors’ normal working week is threatening efforts to resolve the long-running dispute, despite next week’s strike being called off. | A row over whether Saturdays should become part of NHS junior doctors’ normal working week is threatening efforts to resolve the long-running dispute, despite next week’s strike being called off. |
| The divide between the sides currently involved in talks over the issue is so wide that those involved fear it may scupper any chance of a deal. | The divide between the sides currently involved in talks over the issue is so wide that those involved fear it may scupper any chance of a deal. |
| Although junior doctors have suspended their 48-hour walkout that was due to start next Tuesday at 8am, negotiations are reaching a critical point with the issue of Saturday working hampering all sides’ desire to reach an agreement. | Although junior doctors have suspended their 48-hour walkout that was due to start next Tuesday at 8am, negotiations are reaching a critical point with the issue of Saturday working hampering all sides’ desire to reach an agreement. |
| “Saturday is a huge, huge problem,” said one source close to the negotiations between the British Medical Association and NHS Employers and the Department of Health, which resume on Thursday. | “Saturday is a huge, huge problem,” said one source close to the negotiations between the British Medical Association and NHS Employers and the Department of Health, which resume on Thursday. |
| Related: Simon Stevens: trying to steer the NHS through tumultuous times | Related: Simon Stevens: trying to steer the NHS through tumultuous times |
| Both see it as a red line on which they cannot compromise, the source added, despite progress on other fronts. | Both see it as a red line on which they cannot compromise, the source added, despite progress on other fronts. |
| Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, is insisting that England’s 45,000 junior doctors accept working on Saturdays as part of his plans to bring in a more fully functioning seven-day NHS. But the BMA, the doctors’ union, is refusing to countenance such a radical change to trainee doctors’ working patterns. | Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, is insisting that England’s 45,000 junior doctors accept working on Saturdays as part of his plans to bring in a more fully functioning seven-day NHS. But the BMA, the doctors’ union, is refusing to countenance such a radical change to trainee doctors’ working patterns. |
| The standard working week for junior hospital doctors – all those below the level of consultant – is 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday. They receive overtime for working outside those hours. But Hunt wants to extend their normal week to 10pm on weeknights and to also include Saturdays up to 7pm and has offered an 11% rise on basic pay if they agree. | The standard working week for junior hospital doctors – all those below the level of consultant – is 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday. They receive overtime for working outside those hours. But Hunt wants to extend their normal week to 10pm on weeknights and to also include Saturdays up to 7pm and has offered an 11% rise on basic pay if they agree. |
| “Jeremy Hunt doesn’t want to give in on on that. He doesn’t want to give an inch, because of his seven-day NHS pledge. And the BMA are absolutely adamant that Saturday shouldn’t count as normal working,” said the source. | “Jeremy Hunt doesn’t want to give in on on that. He doesn’t want to give an inch, because of his seven-day NHS pledge. And the BMA are absolutely adamant that Saturday shouldn’t count as normal working,” said the source. |
| David Dalton, the hospital boss Hunt has brought in to lead negotiations for the NHS, plans to table some new ideas to break the logjam over the issue when the talks resume in London under the auspices of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas). | David Dalton, the hospital boss Hunt has brought in to lead negotiations for the NHS, plans to table some new ideas to break the logjam over the issue when the talks resume in London under the auspices of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas). |
| He is understood to be looking at several proposals, including only Saturday mornings becoming part of junior doctors’ “plain time” – the hours for which they receive only basic pay for working. | He is understood to be looking at several proposals, including only Saturday mornings becoming part of junior doctors’ “plain time” – the hours for which they receive only basic pay for working. |
| Related: Junior doctors must not block NHS progress, says Cameron | Related: Junior doctors must not block NHS progress, says Cameron |
| He is also examining whether paying trainee medics premium rates for working anything other than an occasional Saturday might be acceptable. | He is also examining whether paying trainee medics premium rates for working anything other than an occasional Saturday might be acceptable. |
| Dalton, the boss of Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, has been consulting senior hospital bosses about how to find common ground between the two sides. | Dalton, the boss of Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, has been consulting senior hospital bosses about how to find common ground between the two sides. |
| “He’s trying to find a formula to sort this. He wants both sides to come to some sort of understanding [on Saturdays] and to compromise, so that no one would get a 100% win,” one ally said. “The key thing he needs is everybody involved to be flexible.” | “He’s trying to find a formula to sort this. He wants both sides to come to some sort of understanding [on Saturdays] and to compromise, so that no one would get a 100% win,” one ally said. “The key thing he needs is everybody involved to be flexible.” |
| Hospitals faced with cancelling operations and outpatient clinics for a second time after last week’s first walkout by junior doctors were relieved that the BMA decided to postpone next week’s two-day stoppage. The union hopes that will provide an atmosphere for constructive talks without a strike looming. | Hospitals faced with cancelling operations and outpatient clinics for a second time after last week’s first walkout by junior doctors were relieved that the BMA decided to postpone next week’s two-day stoppage. The union hopes that will provide an atmosphere for constructive talks without a strike looming. |
| But Dr Johann Malawana, chair of the BMA’s junior doctors committee, stressed that, despite the strike being called off, significant differences remain. “It is important to be clear that differences still exist between the BMA and the government on key areas, including the protection of patient safety and doctors’ working lives, and the recognition of unsocial hours,” he said. “Significant, concrete progress will need to be made if future action, currently planned for 10 February, is to be averted.” | |
| Related: The Guardian view on the NHS: how much is the nation prepared to pay? | Editorial | Related: The Guardian view on the NHS: how much is the nation prepared to pay? | Editorial |
| BMA negotiators are aware that its 38,000 junior doctor members could vote down any deal they think is unacceptable. The union will ballot them if and when the shape and details of a potential final deal have been sorted out. | BMA negotiators are aware that its 38,000 junior doctor members could vote down any deal they think is unacceptable. The union will ballot them if and when the shape and details of a potential final deal have been sorted out. |
| There is widespread apprehension in the NHS that the 10 February walkout could prove seriously disruptive, as it would involve an all-out strike, with junior doctors not working at all for nine hours between 8am and 5pm. They still worked normally in areas of emergency care, such as A&E and childbirth services, during last Tuesday’s initial strike. | There is widespread apprehension in the NHS that the 10 February walkout could prove seriously disruptive, as it would involve an all-out strike, with junior doctors not working at all for nine hours between 8am and 5pm. They still worked normally in areas of emergency care, such as A&E and childbirth services, during last Tuesday’s initial strike. |
| Hunt has already raised the prospect of not all A&E units remaining open during that action and patients’ health being put at risk on 10 February, though the BMA has accused him of scaremongering. | Hunt has already raised the prospect of not all A&E units remaining open during that action and patients’ health being put at risk on 10 February, though the BMA has accused him of scaremongering. |
| About 4,000 non-urgent operations had to be cancelled last week and many thousands of other patients had appointments as outpatients rescheduled. | |
| Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, said: “This is a welcome decision by the BMA. We know from last week the disruption that industrial action has on patients, their families and carers as appointments and clinics are postponed or delayed. We will continue to work with the BMA over the coming days and hope that a resolution can be reached.” | Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, said: “This is a welcome decision by the BMA. We know from last week the disruption that industrial action has on patients, their families and carers as appointments and clinics are postponed or delayed. We will continue to work with the BMA over the coming days and hope that a resolution can be reached.” |