Cold-calling BMA accused of wanting ‘stunts not talks’

THE British Medical Association has been accused of seeking “stunts not talks” after turning up at government buildings during junior doctors’ strikes.

Today the strikes will enter a third day, with warnings from NHS chiefs that knock-on effects, including delays discharging patients from hospital, are likely to worsen as the week goes on.

Dr Robert Laurenson, co-chairman of the BMA junior doctors committee, posted “selfies” outside the Department of Health and Social Care and the Cabinet Office as tens of thousands of medics took part in walkouts.

Dr Laurenson said he made the visit to government buildings after being told the Health Secretary was keen to negotiate – only to find he was out.

In a post on Twitter, Dr Laurensen said: “I heard @Stevebarclay wanted to urgently negotiate on Sky News. Weird ’cause I didn’t get an email inviting me. So I went to DHSC and the Cabinet Office but unfortunately Steve was out. Steve says one thing but wants another. He wants these strikes.”

Yesterday the BMA was accused of being “more interested in stunts than talks” by a Whitehall source, who said the Health Secretary was in negotiations with other health unions.

On Friday, Mr Barclay urged the BMA to take part in pay negotiations – on the same basis of that offered to other unions – but medics rejected the offer because of Mr Barclay’s “preconditions”.

A Whitehall source said: “The offer to talk is there. Steve has written to them to make that clear, but instead they are more interested in pulling stunts.”

Yesterday Dr Laurenson said: “If the Health Secretary is truly committed to this, then he needs to drop these unreasonable pre-conditions and begin proper negotiations with us.”