The BMA junior doctors committee is looking at what ‘next steps’ to take in the contract row, following the Government’s announcement that it will be imposed.
Their statement comes in response to health secretary Jeremy Hunt’s decision yesterday to push ahead with rolling out the contract despite the junior doctor referendum rejecting it.
Dr Ellen McCourt, who was appointed interim chair of the junior doctors committee after Dr Johann Malawana resigned earlier this week, said the imposition was ‘extremely disappointing’.
She said: ‘By choosing this route rather than building on progress made and addressing the outstanding issues which led to a rejection of the contract by many junior doctors, the Government is simply storing up problems for the future.
‘A new contract will affect a generation of doctors and impact on the delivery of patient care. It needs to have the support of the profession and in light of today’s announcement the BMA will need to consult with members before deciding on next steps.’
She added that ‘the BMA has always been clear in its desire for a negotiated end to this dispute’ and that she was ‘committed to delivering on this’.
Junior doctors rejected the contract offer by 58% of the vote, following six days of walkouts in protests over contract changes earlier in the year.
