NHS boss ‘must say sorry for terror slur’
STRIKE leader Dr Johann Malawana has demanded an apology from NHS England for ‘slurring’ junior doctors over whether they would be ready in the event of a terrorist attack.
The row broke out after Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS England’s medical director, made comments that doctors say casts doubt on whether they would break their strike in the wake of a Paris-style atrocity.
In a letter to the British Medical Association, Sir Bruce called for ‘a clear understanding of arrangements should a major incident be declared’ after the ‘tragic events in Paris’.
He also asked if striking junior doctors would be available ‘within one hour’.
Doctors criticised Sir Bruce on Twitter, with former BMA junior doctors’ leader Dr Ben Molyneux denouncing the letter as ‘overt political spin’.
Yesterday, Dr Malawana told his Twitter followers: ‘Public always assume we would do our duty. It’s a pity a prominent doctor ie @DrBruceKeogh would attempt this slur.’
An hour later he added: ‘On Monday morning we need to see a full unreserved apology from @DrBruceKeogh to his junior colleagues. No squirming pretence about meaning.’
Some junior doctors feel Sir Bruce is too close to the Government as he has been strongly behind the push to expand seven-day services.
Last night he declined to get involved in the row.
Instead, an NHS England spokesman said: ‘Should a strike go ahead, NHS England has legal responsibility for ensuring everything possible is done to protect patients and the public. We will pursue that task with the thoroughness that the public expect. Formal assurance on key safety issues will be required. We make absolutely no apology for seeking the certainty that the seriousness of the situation requires.’
Industrial action by junior doctors is planned for three days in December, starting with 24 hours of ‘emergency only’ care from 8am on the 1st. They will then stage full walkouts on December 8 and 16 between 8am and 5pm.
The BMA says the action is a ‘last resort’ and argues that proposed changes to junior doctors’ contracts risk a return to dangerously long hours and the loss of extra payments for working weekday evenings and Saturdays.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has promised to raise basic pay by 11 per cent in return for cuts in ‘unsocial hours’ payments. He says only 500 doctors will lose out overall. Junior doctors’ basic salary starts at £22,636 but total earnings in the first year can top £30,000 thanks to extra payments.