Doctors’ new wave of strike mayhem

JUNIOR doctors are plotting a spring of discontent with a wave of two- day strikes that will cause misery for thousands of their patients.

Their union last night announced three 48-hour walkouts in March and April, the first of which will take place in a fortnight’s time.

The British Medical Association also plans to take Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to court on the grounds that he acted illegally in imposing a new contract on doctors.

The spring strikes will lead to the cancellation of tens of thousands of non-emergency operations on top of the 7,000 already disrupted by the last two walkouts. However, the latest action is likely to be far more damaging for the NHS as each will last 48 hours – twice as long as the two 24- hour walkouts staged in January and earlier this month.

Junior doctors are at loggerheads with the Health Secretary over his new contract, which will see them carrying out more evening and weekend shifts for lower rates of pay.

Despite negotiating concessions – including a 13 per cent pay rise – the union refused to accept the contract. Two weeks ago Mr Hunt decided to impose the deal on doctors regardless. The BMA’s junior doctors committee last weekend agreed to carry out three 48-hour strikes on March 9, April 6 and April 26.

It also decided to seek a judicial review of the new contract, claiming Mr Hunt failed to ensure it did not discriminate against women doctors, ethnic minorities or others in vulnerable groups.

Dr Johann Malawana, chairman of the committee, said: ‘In recent weeks I have heard from thousands of junior doctors across the country, and the resounding message is that they cannot and will not accept what the Government is trying to do. It now appears that in trying to push through these changes the Government failed to give proper consideration to the impact this contract could have on junior doctors.’

But Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers – the Government organisation responsible for the contracts – said: ‘It is disappointing that the BMA has decided to announce further industrial action despite the majority of the BMA’s concerns being addressed and reflected in the final contract.’

A Department of Health spokesman described the latest strikes as unnecessary, adding: ‘ The new contract will mean an average 13.5 per cent basic pay rise, and will bring down the maximum number of hours doctors can work.

‘We urge junior doctors to look at the detail of the contract and the clear benefits it brings.’

‘No proper consideration’