A Strike Too Far?

A planned walkout in England on 26 and 27 April will "irreparably damage" trust and the profession's reputation.

16:43 11 April 2016

A planned walkout in England on 26 and 27 April will "irreparably damage" trust and the profession's reputation.

 

A strike that will affect all care by junior doctors is scheduled in England on 26 and 27 April. The British Medical Association (BMA) said that the latest action in the row over new contract could be avoided if the government agrees to return to talks.

 

However, ministers have refused to reopen discussions saying that they have already made compromises earlier in the year, something that BMA was not willing to make.

 

A spokesman for Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the strike was "disproportionate... damaging and unnecessary".

 

The 48-hour strike started on 08:00 BST on 6 April and junior doctors did not provide routine care, postphoning about 5,000 operations and procedures. The strikes scheduled later this month will affect all forms of care including emergencies.

 

In his article, Sir Bruce said: "The current unrest is not just about contracts, but is the culmination of growing frustration over many years about the difficult conditions in which junior doctors work and train, and about the way they are treated and valued by the multitude of organisations that constitute the NHS."

 

"Whatever the rights and wrongs of this complex dispute, this is a very serious state of affairs."