Huge NHS walk-out now inevitable after Government refuses to re-open talks with junior doctors over pay and conditions

The Government is refusing to re-open talks with junior doctors' representatives over a pay row, meaning the first all-out strike in the NHS' history is likely to go ahead this month.

Today, a spokesperson for the Department of Health told MailOnline it would not enter into new discussions with the BMA over a contract dispute.

The doctors union had three years to negotiate and has already walked away from discussions twice - and so the new deal will be imposed as planned in August - it said.
This means a strike in which junior doctors refuse even to provide emergency care is likely to go ahead at the end of this month - despite warnings it will put patients' lives at risk.

In previous strike action medics have still provided emergency care to patients.
But strikes planned for April 26 and April 27 will see the full withdrawal of labour by junior doctors between the hours of 8am and 5pm on both days.
As junior doctors - everyone up to consultant level - make up the backbone of the workforce, there are fears some departments will have to close if there are not enough consultants to cover.
The bitter dispute centres around a new contract in England which the Government says will create a truly seven-day service.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has ruled out entering into fresh talks with junior doctors' representatives in a dispute over pay

Under the new contract, normal working hours will be extended from 7pm on weekdays to 10pm and will include Saturday from 7am to 5pm for the first time.
A BMA spokeswoman said the union wants to ‘get back around the table’ with the Government in order to come to a solution.

If the Government refuses to negotiate, it will continue with measures including industrial action – which could mean more strikes for patients.
So far, more than 24,500 operations have been cancelled since December last year, after the BMA launched a series of strikes.

Last week, The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges called on unions and the Department of Health to 'step back from the brink' and return to negotiations.
A statement backed by the presidents of all 22 of the medical royal colleges across the UK urged the British Medical Association to suspend plans for the full walkout.
It also called on Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to pause plans to impose the new contract on junior doctors.
'This is a time of unprecedented crisis for the NHS,' the statement says.
'With this in mind and in the spirit of placing patient welfare first and foremost we are writing in response to the escalation of the junior doctor's dispute in England.

The bitter dispute centres around a new contract in England which the Government says will create a truly seven-day service. Pictured, doctors on the picket line in Bristol

A strike in which junior doctors refuse even to provide emergency care is likely to go ahead at the end of this month. Pictured, picket lines outside the Bristol Royal Infirmary during a 48-hour walkout this week

'We call on both sides in the dispute to step back from the brink by suspending imposition of the contract and the all-out strike and urge a return to negotiations.
'We believe that this is essential if the current impasse is to be broken and progress made in resolving this extremely damaging stand-off for the benefit of all NHS stakeholders, particularly our patients and trainees.' 

The BMA is launching a judicial review challenging the lawfulness of the imposition of the contract.
It will challenge the lawfulness of the decision, saying it is a 'total failure on the Government's part'.
It branded the Government's handling of the process as 'shambolic', saying generations of doctors had been alienated.
As part of the judicial review, a judge will review whether Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt's failure to follow due process when introducing the new contract means the Government acted unlawfully.
However, in documents leaked to Health Service Journal last month, the BMA's own lawyers admitted there is 'nothing inherently unlawful' about the new contract.

Launching the judicial review - at 'great cost' to BMA members - should simply be seen as 'last throw of the dice' - an opportunity to negotiate improvements to the deal, the lawyers said.
Mr Hunt is also facing a second legal challenge from NHS staff campaign group Just Health.
The group has raised £127,329 from 4,255 donations in just over a week to bring a High Court judicial review.

The Green Wing cast of Stephen Mangan, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Pippa Haywood, Tamsin Greig and Oliver Chris donned green scrubs to joined a picket line at Northwick Hospital in Middlesex yesterday

On Monday, lawyers acting on their behalf served a 'letter before action' on the Department of Health, giving it seven days to explain how Mr Hunt's decision to impose new shift patterns from this summer was legal.

WHAT IS A JUNIOR DOCTOR AND HOW MUCH DO THEY EARN COMPARED TO PEOPLE IN OTHER PROFESSIONS AFTER THEY LEAVE UNIVERSITY?

What is a junior doctor?
The term 'junior doctor' covers any doctor role that is below GP or consultant level.

The term encompasses a trainee coming out of medical school right up to a speciality doctor (a doctor working in a specific area such as emergency medicine, respiratory or radiology).
These doctors can be in charge of teams, making life-and-death decisions and carrying out surgery.
Junior doctors account for about 55,000 NHS staff in England - a third of the country's medical workforce.

MEDIAN GRADUATE STARTING SALARY BY SECTOR IN 2014-15
GRADUATE OCCUPATION SALARY

Law firm £37,000

Banking or financial services  £31,250

Consulting or business services  £28,500

IT & Telecommunication  £28,500

Accountancy or professional service firm  £28,000

Energy, water or utility company  £26,750

Engineering or industrial company  £25,750

Construction company or consultancy  £25,500

Public sector  £23,750

Teacher  £23,000

Retail  £21,500

Other  £22,000

Source:  Association of Graduate Recruiters

What do they earn?
Trainees coming out of medical school can expect a basic starting salary of £22,636.
This is currently boosted through bonus payments for working more than 40 hours or and/or time worked outside 7am-7pm Monday to Friday.

If a doctor in specialist training (which begins after a doctor has worked in a hospital for two years and can take a further eight years) the basic starting salary is £30,002, according to the NHS Health Careers website.

Again, if they are asked to work more than 40 hours a week and/or to work outside 7am – 7pm Monday to Friday, they currently receive an additional bonus which is usually between 20 per cent and 50 per cent of the basic salary.

This bonus is based on the extra hours worked above a 40 hour normal working week.
Doctors will typically move into a specialism such as emergency medicine or radiology. These basic salaries range from £30,000 to £69,325.

The NHS Employers Organisation, which is opposing the BMA, says the average salary of a junior doctor is £37,000.

How does their pay compare to other graduate professions?
Figures from the Association of Graduate Recruiters show graduates typically start out on salaries ranging from about £21,000 to £37,000.
A fully qualified nurse starts on approximately £22,000. Hours worked on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and on weekdays between 8pm and 6am receive a pay premium.

Professions at the top of the scale include law firms and financial services while those at the bottom include public sector employees and retail.
Someone going in to a law firm can expect a starting salary of about £37,000, banking or financial services, £31,250, consulting or business services £28,500 and IT & Telecommunication £28,500.
Meanwhile, those working in the public sector average £23,750, a teacher £23,000 and retail £21,500.

KATE PICKLES





dailymail