Junior doctor committee speaks out

The British Medical Association has agreed a five-day strike between 8am and 5pm, from September 12 to 16.

Dr Ellen McCourt, BMA junior doctors’ committee chair, said: ‘Junior doctors still have serious concerns with the contract, particularly that it will fuel the current workforce crisis, and that it fails to treat all doctors fairly.

‘Since July, the BMA has made repeated attempts to work with the government to address the concerns that junior doctors have raised.

‘Genuine efforts to resolve the dispute through talks have been met with an unwillingness to engage and, at times, deafening silence from the Secretary of State, leaving junior doctors with no choice but to take further action.

‘This is despite a pledge from Jeremy Hunt that his door is always open.’

A Department for Health spokesman accused the BMA of ‘playing politics’ and being damaging to patients.