Thousands of junior doctors set to protest over changes to NHS contracts

Protest: Thousands of doctors will march today

Twitter/@burnikov

17 October 2015

Tens of thousands of junior doctors will be marching on parliament today to oppose government plans to radically overhaul their terms and conditions.

The British Medical Association’s junior doctor committee has warned that the contract changes will risk patient safety by stretching overworked and tired hospital doctors even further.

Dr Johann Malawana, chair of the BMA’s junior doctor committee, and an obstetrician working in north London, said the Association was "fully supportive" of today's protest, which has been organised by the doctors themselves.

The organisation has reported a surge in membership since the proposals were announced, and the situation is also thought to be causing an exodus of doctors from the UK, with thousands having applied for the paperwork require to work abroad.

The BMA has said its junior doctor members will be balloted for industrial action, which could mean doctors going on strike, or taking action short of a strike, which could involve them refusing to do additional unpaid overtime that is usual for doctors, or declining to fill out death certificates.

Dr Johann Malawana told Evening Standard: "There are lots of these marches coming up, organised by junior doctors, we're fully supportive, in a big way.

"It shows the depth of feeling among the medical profession, junior doctors are absolutely furious about what the Secretary of State is trying to do.

"It's damage the long-term morale of junior doctors in this country."

He said the BMA had balloted for strike action because the government was refusing to "engage in meaninful conversation and negotiation."

He added: "They want to impose to impose a contract without any consideration of what the impact will be on the NHS and junior doctors.

"Jeremy Hunt has decided to impose a contract on junior doctors that is unsafe, it is going to be quite damaging in the long-term on NHS deliverability."

A Department of Health spokesman said: “We have given the BMA Junior Doctors’ Committee four cast-iron assurances to encourage them to come back to the table and negotiate on a new contract that’s fairer for doctors and safer for patients.

“Firstly, this is not a cost cutting exercise: we are not seeking to save any money from the paybill. Second, the proposal will improve patient safety by better supporting a seven-day NHS.

"Third, this contract will not impose longer hours for junior doctors and finally, we will ensure that the great majority of junior doctors are at least as well paid as they would be now. We urge the BMA to come back to the table to work out the best deal for its members."

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Thousands of junior doctors set to protest over changes to NHS contracts

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