Jeremy Hunt given chance to avert junior doctors’ strike
![Junior doctors have been on strike four times to protest the new contract [Image: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images].](https://voxpoliticalonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/160424honk-for-junior-doctors.jpg)
Junior doctors have been on strike four times to protest the new contract [Image: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images].
We should all know by now that Hunt’s policies – along with all other policies of the current Conservative Government – are based on ideology, not evidence.
He won’t want to do any trials of his dangerous junior doctor contract because he knows it will fall on its gluteus maximus – and he’s determined to enforce it, no matter what.
A group of cross-party MPs has called on Jeremy Hunt to trial the new junior doctors contract in a small number of trusts in a bid to prevent next week’s all-out strike.
Labour’s Heidi Alexander, Conservative Dr Dan Poulter, Lib Dem Norman Lamb and the SNP’s Dr Philippa Whitford told the Health Secretary in a letter that they want an independent evaluation of the so-called “weekend effect” which sees higher mortality rates for patients admitted at weekends.
The move comes after the Health Secretary announced he would impose the contested contract, whether or not it had the support of the British Medical Association (BMA).
The letter explains that concerns have been raised about the impact of the contract, were it imposed, and said it believed the BMA would not go ahead with next week’s strike if the Government agreed to the proposal.
A BMA source said that if the Government agreed to limited trials of a pilot of the contract, representatives would be prepared to meet them to discuss the possibility of calling off the strike on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Source: Jeremy Hunt given chance to avert junior doctors’ strike | UK Politics | News | The Independent
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What is democracy, can it only express itself if it is enforceable.
What is Law, is it enforcement
Hunt doesn’t want to see reason or settle this dispute amicably. Hunt is a nasty piece of corrupt work and he is out to wreck the NHS. It’s as simple as that.
He and his bosses want to close the NHS down as we know, then they can continue to bring about privatisation, reduced wages and the Drs will have to take it or leave it, unfortunately. Good luck to all jnr Doctors.
I’ve actually just seen the Sky News interview on this one, and (whiIst some might argue that it’s an obvious thing to do), I think it’s very clever of Labour to have come up with this offer.
If Hunt refuses to accept this offer, and it all goes awry for him, then Labour will just turn round and say, “well, we did give you the chance!”, and it will be even more politically disastrous for Hunt, than it otherwise would have been?
Of course there is the other side of the coin, whereby Hunt won’t be able to swallow his pride, and will insist on full imposition, even though he may know, in the back of his mind that a trial would have been the most sensible course of action. Not only that, but if it did work out, then Hunt would have been able to have an “I told you so!” moment.
But he won’t take it, too arrogant and stupid to, in his head, he’s right and the doctors and the public are all wrong!
I genuinely worry that Hunt has other, hidden, reasons for his smug intransigence – if the Junior Doctors keep on striking, this government can point to it, and say how bad the NHS is becoming because of their actions – thus another foot in the grave is dug, and the NHS dies a little bit quicker – then private health care is stepped up even more!
I totally agree with the Junior Doctors, but worry that they’ve no hope of winning with the government we have now :(
Its disgusting that junior doctors are going on strike. How would it be possible to be striking knowing someone is dying. If you care and are passionate you wouldn’t do that!! They earn loads!! Plus they know what they are going into when they enter this profession – absolutely disgraceful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nobody who is dying will go without care. That has been made abundantly clear in the run-up to the strike.
Junior doctors do care, and are compassionate – they wouldn’t be in their profession if that wasn’t so.
If you’re looking for somebody who lacks those qualities, look no further than Jeremy Hunt. He is refusing to negotiate with the junior doctors, forcing them into a position where they have no other option than to strike, because they know that allowing Hunt to impose his contract really will inflict suffering on people who are seriously ill and, yes, dying.
And they know that Hunt knows this, too.
This is NOT about pay. It is about a politician trying to force doctors into working conditions that will drive down standards and endanger patients.
And by the way, before you brand as “disgraceful” people who are doing everything they can to ensure that NHS patients are treated with respect and dignity in the face of a total lack of those qualities from the Health Secretary, you would do well to consider how your own comment will be received.