Junior doctors to stage five more days of strikes

Junor doctors: Another five-day strike has been announced
Lauren Hurley/PA Wire
Mark Chandler31 August 2016
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Junior doctors are to stage five more days of strikes in their ongoing row over contracts, it has been announced.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said there would be a "full withdrawal of labour" between September 12 and September 16.

That action will be followed by "further dates" which are yet to be confirmed, a BMA spokeswoman said.

Earlier this month, Ellen McCourt, who chairs the BMA's junior doctors committee (JDC), said that the JDC was asking the BMA Council to authorise a "rolling programme of escalated industrial action beginning in early September".

Strikes took place between January and April after junior doctors failed to come to an agreement with the Government over a proposed new contract.

Tens of thousands of operations and appointments had to be cancelled and rescheduled for a later date as a result.

In July, the Government announced it would impose a new contract after junior doctors and medical students voted to reject a contract brokered between health leaders and the BMA.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "As doctors' representatives, the BMA should be putting patients first not playing politics in a way that will be immensely damaging for vulnerable patients.

“What's more, the BMA must be the first union in history to call for strike action against a deal they themselves negotiated and said was a good one.

"Whilst there are many pressures on the frontline, funding is at record levels, with the highest number of doctors employed in the history of the NHS.

“Co-operation not confrontation is the way forward to make sure patients get the best treatment and the NHS is there for people whenever they need it."

Additional reporting by the Press Association.

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