Jeremy Hunt says potential deal in dispute with junior doctors

Strike action by junior doctors tomorrow is still due to go ahead despite a potential deal to resolve a dispute over changes to contracts.
Junior doctors and medical students at a protest in Leeds.Junior doctors and medical students at a protest in Leeds.
Junior doctors and medical students at a protest in Leeds.

Medics are due to start a 24-hour strike from 8am on Tuesday after the British Medical Association (BMA) ballot its members on industrial action.

Junior doctors voted to strike by a 98 per cent majority over changes to contracts which they say would cut pay and make them work unsafe hours.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Speaking in parliament this afternoon, health secretary Jeremy Hunt said the government had agreed not to unilaterally impose the contract changes “for a time-limited” period under a potential deal with the BMA.

But he said a strike by doctors in England due to start at 8am on Tuesday was still set to go ahead.

Tomorrow’s strike involves all junior doctors except those on call to provide emergency cover.

Then two full strikes were planned from 8am-5pm on Tuesday, December 8, and from 8am-5pm Wednesday, December 16.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Talks between government officials and the BMA, hosted by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), resumed on Monday following three days of negotiations last week.

More than 28,000 junior doctors took part in a ballot for industrial action, a 76 per cent turnout.

Ninety-eight per cent voted for full strike action and more than 99 per cent for industrial action short of a strike.

The BMA said its Junior Doctors’ Committee was considering the potential deal.

Related topics: