Junior doctors to consider fresh wave of industrial action in dispute over new contract

'Our unity remains our strength'

Junior doctors and supporters hold placards during a strike outside St Thomas' Hospital in London (Reuters)

Junior doctors are to consider a fresh wave of industrial action starting next month, as the dispute over a new contract drawn up by Jeremy Hunt continues.

Ellen McCourt, chair of the British Medical Association’s (BMA) junior doctors committee, warned of a “rolling programme of escalated industrial action” and said that by “standing together” they could demand the Health Secretary takes them seriously. Representatives of the doctors have called on their union to authorise the strike action.

In a letter released to members on Thursday, Ms McCourt criticised the Government for remaining “persistently silent” on the issues she said had led to the rejection of the contract. It comes after the Government announced it would impose a new contract after junior doctors and medical students voted – by 58 per cent – to reject a contract brokered with the BMA.

She said: "In light of this, the JDC [Junior Doctors Committee] Executive has voted to reject the proposed new contract in full and to call for formal re-negotiations on all of your concerns.

"In response to the Government's silence, JDC exec has today made a formal request for a special meeting of BMA Council to authorise a rolling programme of escalated industrial action beginning in early September."

She added that the BMA could not "stand idly by" as the date for imposition drew nearer, saying that forcing a contract on doctors that they did not have confidence in would be bad for patients.

"The road ahead will not be easy, but together we can demonstrate our commitment to securing a contract that is acceptable to junior doctors; by standing together we speak with one voice and demand the Government takes us seriously.

"Our unity remains our strength."

Responding to Ms McCourt's letter, Daniel Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, said: "Industrial action achieves little or nothing, but places pressure on already stretched teams and services and causes worry, distress and disruption for patients, carers and their families.

"Over the last two months we have been talking with the Junior Doctors Committee and have, along with the Department of Health and others, responded positively to their concerns regarding the guardian role and whistleblowing.

"Employers were hopeful that the continued positive engagement on other important topics – such as deployment, flexibility in training, additional training for those returning from career breaks, costs of training, mutual recognition of syllabus, study leave and the gender pay gap in medicine – were a sign of how serious employers, Health Education England and the Department of Health were about honouring the agreements reached with the BMA in November, February and May."

A Department of Health spokesperson told The Independent: "It is extremely disappointing that the Junior Doctors Committee is seeking further strike action, on a contract that has already been endorsed as a 'good deal' by the former leader of that same committee.

"Protracted uncertainty can only be damaging for those working in the NHS and the patients who depend on it. We strongly encourage the JDC to step back from action that puts patient safety at risk.”