Health Secretary Will Impose New Contract On Junior Doctors
The BMA say they're disappointed Jeremy Hunt has decided to push ahead with changes to junior doctor contracts, despite strike action.
The BMA say they're disappointed Jeremy Hunt has decided to push ahead with changes to junior doctor contracts, despite strike action.
The Health Secretary made the announcement saying discussions with the British Medical Association failed to reach an agreement so he sees no point in continuing talks.
He told the Commons;
''The definition of negotiation is discussion where both sides demonstrate flexibility and compromise and the BMA have proved unwilling to do this.''
In reponse the BMA have said they will not accept a contract that is bad for patient care, the profession and the NHS as a whole.
Earlier, the chief executive of NHS England Simon Stevens said that it was "right" to force a change in contracts on junior doctors.
The move comes after union leaders failed to back the Government's "best and final" offer.
The British Medical Association was given until Wednesday afternoon to agree to the offer - a deadline that was missed.
Instead the BMA again called on Jeremy Hunt to accept its own proposed pay model and withdraw his threat to force through changes.
Dr Aaron Borbora represents junior doctors on Merseyside and told us:
''We don't wish to go down this route. Unfortunately if Jeremy Hunt does persist it is inevitable we will have to react to that and I can't rule out further industrial action''
"Im very disappointed he's decided to ignore our voices and impose the contract that we believe is profoundly unfair and we believe is extremley damaging to the NHS."