Cancel these walkouts and assist the NHS to thrive, says Victoria Atkins
The NHS belongs to all of us, not simply the junior medical doctors committee of the British Medical Association.
As Health Secretary I’m targeted on affected person security and excellent care while making certain affordable settlements for NHS employees and the taxpayer.
The 5 days of strikes that junior medical doctors are at the moment taking will put huge strain on the NHS and hamper situations for fruitful negotiation.
We have already given junior medical doctors a pay improve of as much as 10.3 per cent this yr. We made clear additional funding was out there.
Disappointingly, the committee refused to place this supply to members and pressed forward with strikes.
The 5 days of strikes that junior medical doctors are at the moment taking will put huge strain on the NHS and hamper situations for fruitful negotiation
As Health Secretary I’m targeted on affected person security and excellent care while making certain affordable settlements for NHS employees and the taxpayer
Of course, I wish to discover a affordable answer and finish these strikes. However, the BMA’s motion doesn’t sign they’re able to be affordable.
When strikes are imminent, my precedence is to help the broader well being and care system to maintain sufferers protected.
A living proof are considerations round pressing most cancers surgical procedure which could possibly be impacted on strike days.
Some 7000 pressing most cancers operations have been cancelled throughout their strikes – inflicting hurt and anguish to these anticipating to obtain probably life-saving care.
Dame Cally Palmer, NHS England’s nationwide most cancers director, has already confirmed ‘the NHS is working extremely onerous to keep up provision’ to keep away from danger of hurt to sufferers.
‘That’s why we’re in energetic discussions with the BMA to agree security mitigations… individuals ought to proceed to return ahead, both for checks, or their appointment, until instructed in any other case.’
In mild of this and the broader affect, with greater than 1.3million appointments already cancelled or rescheduled to this point as a result of industrial motion, it’s my hope and expectation they name off their motion and return to the desk.
This will permit us to discover a manner ahead for sufferers and the NHS, constructed round affordable expectations.
It’s essential to emphasize any new settlement will not be restricted to pay will increase. It’s not the one factor on junior medical doctors’ minds.
When I converse to constituents and NHS colleagues, what comes up often is their need to really feel valued.
They need entry to prime quality coaching, the chance to diversify into different specialisms, and the pliability to handle shift patterns which promote a wholesome work/life steadiness.
These are the issues the NHS can do higher. A powerful and productive NHS helps sufferers and workers, in addition to contributing to a stronger economic system.
It ought to come as no shock, subsequently, {that a} central ambition of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan is to make the NHS a greater place to work for all our workforce.
I wish to discover a truthful and affordable settlement for sufferers, junior medical doctors, and the taxpayer in addition to enhancing working situations for all workers.
So, it truly is about greater than pay. To make lasting progress on all fronts, I ask the junior medical doctors committee to cancel their motion, return to the desk with affordable expectations, and collectively we are going to discover a manner for sufferers, clinicians and our NHS to thrive.
