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| Junior doctors' strikes: MPs call for new contract pilot | Junior doctors' strikes: MPs call for new contract pilot |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A group of MPs has called on Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to pilot the use of a new NHS contract in a bid to end the ongoing row with junior doctors. | A group of MPs has called on Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to pilot the use of a new NHS contract in a bid to end the ongoing row with junior doctors. |
| In a letter, the cross-party MPs called for an independent evaluation of the controversial contract in operation and a study of mortality rates at weekends. | In a letter, the cross-party MPs called for an independent evaluation of the controversial contract in operation and a study of mortality rates at weekends. |
| The letter was "political opportunism" by Labour, a government spokesman said. | The letter was "political opportunism" by Labour, a government spokesman said. |
| Junior doctors in England are to begin a 48-hour walkout on Tuesday - their first strike to include emergency care. | Junior doctors in England are to begin a 48-hour walkout on Tuesday - their first strike to include emergency care. |
| Mr Hunt has argued that he wants to improve care on Saturdays and Sundays, saying research shows patients are more likely to die if they are admitted during a weekend. | Mr Hunt has argued that he wants to improve care on Saturdays and Sundays, saying research shows patients are more likely to die if they are admitted during a weekend. |
| The new contract - which junior doctors have so far rejected - would change the terms of their pay and conditions, particularly at weekends. | The new contract - which junior doctors have so far rejected - would change the terms of their pay and conditions, particularly at weekends. |
| The health secretary has said he will now unilaterally impose the contract on junior doctors. | The health secretary has said he will now unilaterally impose the contract on junior doctors. |
| The president of the Royal College of Surgeons, Clare Marx, said the dispute was a "lose-lose situation" for all parties, but said the college backed the cross-party proposal as a way to end the row. | |
| "Patients must come first. The dispute must come to an end," she said. | |
| Junior doctors' row: The dispute explained | Junior doctors' row: The dispute explained |
| Will the dispute have a toxic legacy? | Will the dispute have a toxic legacy? |
| Was a deal with doctors ever possible? | Was a deal with doctors ever possible? |
| In the letter - organised by Labour's shadow health secretary Heidi Alexander - the group of MPs wrote: "You will be aware that medical leaders, royal colleges and patient groups, have said the imposition or unilateral introduction of the contract is the wrong approach and risks permanent damage to the future of the medical workforce. | |
| "If it remains your intention to introduce this new contract, we believe it should be piloted in a number of trusts/across a number of deaneries and for its impact on patients, staff and the 'weekend effect' to be independently evaluated." | "If it remains your intention to introduce this new contract, we believe it should be piloted in a number of trusts/across a number of deaneries and for its impact on patients, staff and the 'weekend effect' to be independently evaluated." |
| The letter was also signed by Conservative Dr Dan Poulter, Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb and the SNP's Dr Philippa Whitford. | The letter was also signed by Conservative Dr Dan Poulter, Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb and the SNP's Dr Philippa Whitford. |
| If the government agreed to limited trials, BMA representatives would discuss the possibility of calling off the strike on Tuesday and Wednesday, the union said. | If the government agreed to limited trials, BMA representatives would discuss the possibility of calling off the strike on Tuesday and Wednesday, the union said. |
| A government spokesman said it had "always said that we want to introduce this contract in a phased way" so any initial problems can be "ironed out". | A government spokesman said it had "always said that we want to introduce this contract in a phased way" so any initial problems can be "ironed out". |
| Mr Hunt has written to Mark Porter, the chairman of the BMA council, asking him to call off the strike and discuss other issues of concern raised by junior doctors. | |
| His letter said: "The extreme action planned will be deeply worrying for patients, and place enormous additional strain on our NHS at a time of intense pressure." | |
| NHS England says the proposed strike will put-back 112,856 outpatient appointments and 12,711 planned operations between 18 April and 2 May. | |
| If it goes ahead, it will be the first time in the history of the NHS that junior doctors have walked out of accident and emergency units, urgent maternity services, resuscitation and mental health crisis teams. | If it goes ahead, it will be the first time in the history of the NHS that junior doctors have walked out of accident and emergency units, urgent maternity services, resuscitation and mental health crisis teams. |
| Dr Anne Rainsberry, national incident director for NHS England, said it was with "enormous regret that we find patients put in this position." | Dr Anne Rainsberry, national incident director for NHS England, said it was with "enormous regret that we find patients put in this position." |
| She added: "The NHS has been pulling out all the stops to minimise the risks to the quality and safety of care but this is an unprecedented situation during a time of heightened risk." | She added: "The NHS has been pulling out all the stops to minimise the risks to the quality and safety of care but this is an unprecedented situation during a time of heightened risk." |
| The BMA said it had given trusts several weeks' notice to plan ahead. | The BMA said it had given trusts several weeks' notice to plan ahead. |
| A spokesman added: "Junior doctors deeply regret disruption to patients but they are taking this action because they fundamentally believe the government's plans will be bad for patient care in the long term." | A spokesman added: "Junior doctors deeply regret disruption to patients but they are taking this action because they fundamentally believe the government's plans will be bad for patient care in the long term." |
| NHS England has put together a website with information for people needing healthcare over the strike period. | NHS England has put together a website with information for people needing healthcare over the strike period. |
| Are you a patient who will have treatment disrupted by next week's strike? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. | Are you a patient who will have treatment disrupted by next week's strike? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |