On Monday night the planned strike by junior doctors was called off, hours before the planned 24 hour strike to protest a new contract proposed by the government was due to begin.
Great that the #juniordoctors strike is off – Hunt now needs to genuinely negotiate and listen to their concerns. pic.twitter.com/gpvDqfoX1Y
— Sadiq Khan MP (@SadiqKhan) November 30, 2015
The temporary agreement between the BMA (British Medical Association) and the government stalls the planned strikes and gives time for further negotiations. Concerns over the contract proposed by the government was designed to improve weekend cover without adding any extra investment into the NHS to pay for this, staff were concerned that the work force would be spread too thin, leading to being overworked and possible burnout which would put patients lives at risk.
Today’s industrial action suspended, return to ‘genuine negotiations’ — https://t.co/HhJwxzFZ2X #juniorcontract
— The BMA (@TheBMA) December 1, 2015
Because the strike was called off so late, around 600 operations and thousands of outpatient appointments have either been cancelled or rearranged.
@BBCNWT #juniordoctors fighting for fair & safe contract. If they didn’t start early,stay late&miss breaks there would be disruption daily!
— Jennifer Mahoney (@JennMahoney84) December 1, 2015
Victory for common sense. Strike shouldn’t have been called w/o talking to govt first but great for 7 day services https://t.co/fYMhCYgGZ2
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) November 30, 2015
