Routine operations could be cancelled on three days in December when Nottinghamshire junior doctors go on strike over changes to their hours which they claim are unsafe for patients.
Around 98 per cent of junior doctors nationally voted in favour of strikes after Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said that the NHS should become a seven-day service, with more doctors working later hours at weekends.
We’ve been pushed into the corner
Doctors will stage protests on December 1, 8, and 16, – meaning non-emergency operations are likely to be cancelled.
Junior doctors say that longer hours are leading to tired staff and care that is ‘unsafe for patients.’
Dr Mohita Damany, a representative from the British Medical Association who lives in Nottingham, said: “It’s not been a decision we have been able to take lightly, unfortunately I say with a very heavy heart that we have been forced to take this decision, it’s a very last minute resort and we’ve been pushed into the corner by the government into making this decision.”
Nottinghamshire doctors previously organised a rally in Old Market Square against the proposed changes.
Hospitals currently supply seven days of care, but do not carry out elective operations on weekends – new plans by the Department of Health will see a full NHS service carried out on Saturdays and Sundays.
The government says longer working hours will be compensated for with an eleven per cent pay rise.
Dr Damany added: “Unfortunately there are quite a few misconceptions with the pay rise, that’s a separate issue and that’s not the reason we are striking.
“The reason we are striking is because it’s an unfair contract for doctors and is unsafe for patients.”
Striking doctors assured patients that emergency operations would still be carried out.
Mr Hunt described the result of the vote as ‘disappointing’.
Disappointing news re strike ballot. Still time to avert action that harms patients; I invite BMA again to come & talk about any concerns.
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) November 19, 2015
He said: “Our focus now is protecting patients on strike days. NHS medical director Bruce Keogh has written to BMA seeking urgent assurances on safety.”
