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Jeremy Hunt says cross-party plan to avert NHS strike is opportunism Jeremy Hunt: MPs' plan to avert junior doctors' strike is opportunism
(35 minutes later)
Jeremy Hunt has dismissed as “opportunism” the Labour-brokered proposal to dissuade junior doctors from the first all-out strike in NHS history.Jeremy Hunt has dismissed as “opportunism” the Labour-brokered proposal to dissuade junior doctors from the first all-out strike in NHS history.
A cross-party group of MPs has urged the health secretary to limit his new junior doctors contract to a pilot scheme before introducing it across England. A cross-party group of MPs urged the health secretary to limit the new junior doctors’ contract to a pilot scheme before introducing it across England.
The proposal, which Labour negotiated with the British Medical Association (BMA), also called for an independent audit of the impact of the new weekend working contract before it is rolled out nationwide. The proposal, which Labour negotiated with the British Medical Association (BMA), also called for an independent audit of the impact of the new weekend working contract before its wider introduction.
The move is designed to avoid the unprecedented all-out NHS strike set for Tuesday and Wednesday. The shadow health secretary, Heidi Alexander, suggested the BMA would consult its members about calling off the walk-out if Hunt agreed to the plan. The move is designed to avoid the unprecedented all-out strike set for Tuesday and Wednesday. The shadow health secretary, Heidi Alexander, suggested the BMA would consult its members about calling off the walkout if Hunt agreed to the plan.
Hunt, however, responded to the move on Sunday morning by describing it as opportunism. Writing on Twitter, the health secretary said: “Labour ‘plan’ is opportunism - only 11% of junior docs go onto new contracts in August. We’re staging implementation to ensure it works as intended. Any further delay just means we will take longer to eliminate weekend effect.”, Hunt, however, responded to the move on Sunday morning by describing it as opportunism. Writing on Twitter, the health secretary said: “Labour ‘plan’ is opportunism - only 11% of junior docs go on to new contracts in August. We’re staging implementation to ensure it works as intended. Any further delay just means we will take longer to eliminate weekend effect.”
Labour "plan" is opportunism - only 11% of junior docs go onto new contracts in August. We're staging implementation to ensure it works 1/2Labour "plan" is opportunism - only 11% of junior docs go onto new contracts in August. We're staging implementation to ensure it works 1/2
Hunt has said he will impose the contested contract, whether or not it has BMA support.Hunt has said he will impose the contested contract, whether or not it has BMA support.
Alexander, the Conservatives’ Dr Dan Poulter, the Lib Dems’ Norman Lamb and the SNP’s Dr Philippa Whitford told Hunt in a letter that they wanted an independent evaluation of the so-called “weekend effect”, in which mortality rates are higher for patients admitted at outside the standard working week.Alexander, the Conservatives’ Dr Dan Poulter, the Lib Dems’ Norman Lamb and the SNP’s Dr Philippa Whitford told Hunt in a letter that they wanted an independent evaluation of the so-called “weekend effect”, in which mortality rates are higher for patients admitted at outside the standard working week.
The letter explained that concerns had been raised about the impact of the contract, were it imposed, and that they believed the BMA would not go ahead with next week’s strike if the government agreed to the proposal. The letter says concerns have been raised about the impact of the contract, if imposed, and that the MPs believe the BMA would not go ahead with next week’s strike if the government agrees to the proposal.
The home secretary, Theresa May, suggested the Labour-backed plans echoed Hunt’s existing proposals. Speaking on The Andrew Marr Show on BBC1 on Sunday, she said: “The intention has always been to introduce the new contract in phases, and as I understand it, fewer than 20% of doctors will have the new contract in August, so that’s always been part of the plan.The home secretary, Theresa May, suggested the Labour-backed plans echoed Hunt’s existing proposals. Speaking on The Andrew Marr Show on BBC1 on Sunday, she said: “The intention has always been to introduce the new contract in phases, and as I understand it, fewer than 20% of doctors will have the new contract in August, so that’s always been part of the plan.
“And as I understand it Jeremy Hunt has written to the BMA and asked them to come round the table and discuss it with him.”“And as I understand it Jeremy Hunt has written to the BMA and asked them to come round the table and discuss it with him.”
Hunt has written to Mark Porter, the chairman of the BMA council, asking for a meeting on Monday to address other issues of concern that junior doctors have raised.Hunt has written to Mark Porter, the chairman of the BMA council, asking for a meeting on Monday to address other issues of concern that junior doctors have raised.
In a letter published by the Department of Health on Sunday, Hunt asks Porter to call off the strike and instead to meet him to discuss workforce requirements for seven-day services, and improvements in training and work-life balance for junior doctors.In a letter published by the Department of Health on Sunday, Hunt asks Porter to call off the strike and instead to meet him to discuss workforce requirements for seven-day services, and improvements in training and work-life balance for junior doctors.
His letter says: “The extreme action planned will be deeply worrying for patients, and place enormous additional strain on our NHS at a time of intense pressure.His letter says: “The extreme action planned will be deeply worrying for patients, and place enormous additional strain on our NHS at a time of intense pressure.
“I therefore appeal to you one final time to call off strike action that will see doctors withdraw potentially life-saving care, and to meet with me on Monday to discuss a better way forward.”“I therefore appeal to you one final time to call off strike action that will see doctors withdraw potentially life-saving care, and to meet with me on Monday to discuss a better way forward.”
In the cross-party letter, the 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. In the cross-party letter, the MPs say: “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.”
An evaluation would lead to a “real understanding of the problem”, the MPs said, allowing targeted changes to be made. An evaluation would lead to a “real understanding of the problem”, the MPs say, allowing targeted changes to be made.
Clare Marx, the president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said the dispute was a “lose-lose situation” for all parties and that the college strongly backed the proposal as a possible way out of the current impasse.Clare Marx, the president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said the dispute was a “lose-lose situation” for all parties and that the college strongly backed the proposal as a possible way out of the current impasse.
“Patients must come first. The dispute must come to an end,” she said.“Patients must come first. The dispute must come to an end,” she said.
The government said it had held 75 meetings with the BMA and three years of talks, and delaying reform further would mean not taking an important step in improving weekend care.The government said it had held 75 meetings with the BMA and three years of talks, and delaying reform further would mean not taking an important step in improving weekend care.
A government spokesman said: “We have always said that we want to introduce this contract in a phased way – for around 11% of junior doctors from August – precisely so any initial problems can be ironed out. That’s why this is simply ill-informed political opportunism from the same Labour party responsible for the flawed contracts we have now.”A government spokesman said: “We have always said that we want to introduce this contract in a phased way – for around 11% of junior doctors from August – precisely so any initial problems can be ironed out. That’s why this is simply ill-informed political opportunism from the same Labour party responsible for the flawed contracts we have now.”
Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons deputy speaker, meanwhile said he had requested the help of the army to support a chronically-understaffed A&E department in Lancashire.Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons deputy speaker, meanwhile said he had requested the help of the army to support a chronically-understaffed A&E department in Lancashire.
Chorley hospital temporarily closed its A&E unit last week and downgraded to an “urgent care service” after Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS trust said there was a shortage of doctors.Chorley hospital temporarily closed its A&E unit last week and downgraded to an “urgent care service” after Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS trust said there was a shortage of doctors.
Hoyle, whose Chorley constituency includes the hospital, said on Sunday that highly-trained military medics should be considered nationwide as a temporary support for A&E departments struggling to cope.Hoyle, whose Chorley constituency includes the hospital, said on Sunday that highly-trained military medics should be considered nationwide as a temporary support for A&E departments struggling to cope.
“A&E across the country is on the edge. This is a domino effect and you can bring the whole of A&E down if you allow the situation at Chorley to continue elsewhere,” he said.“A&E across the country is on the edge. This is a domino effect and you can bring the whole of A&E down if you allow the situation at Chorley to continue elsewhere,” he said.
“One of the avenues I suggested was to get the armed forces in Preston just for a temporary period until you can find an alternative over the critical period. It would have kept the A&E open and taken the pressure off the rest of Lancashire.”“One of the avenues I suggested was to get the armed forces in Preston just for a temporary period until you can find an alternative over the critical period. It would have kept the A&E open and taken the pressure off the rest of Lancashire.”
Speaking a day after a 200-strong protest outside Chorley hospital, Hoyle said the closure would have a worrying effect on hospitals in Wigan, 12 miles away, Blackburn, 14 miles away, and in Preston, which he said had waiting times of up to eight hours last week.Speaking a day after a 200-strong protest outside Chorley hospital, Hoyle said the closure would have a worrying effect on hospitals in Wigan, 12 miles away, Blackburn, 14 miles away, and in Preston, which he said had waiting times of up to eight hours last week.