Hunt Imposes New Contract On Junior Doctors

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt says he has decided to impose a new contract on junior doctors.

He spoke in parliament after receiving a letter from the Government’s chief negotiator Sir David Dalton saying that he believed negotiations with the BMA on working unsociable hours could go no further.

Making a statement in the House of Commons, Mr Hunt told MPs: “Under the existing contract, doctors can receive the same pay for working quite different amounts of unsociable hours.

"Doctors not working nights can be paid the same for working those who do and if one doctor works just one hour over the maximum shift length, it can trigger a 66% pay rise for all doctors on that rota.

"Despite the patent unfairness of the contract, progress on reforming it has been slow, with the BMA walking away from negotiations without notice before the election.

"Talks did start again in November, but since then we’ve had two damaging strikes and 6,000 operations cancelled.

"Despite progress and willingness to be flexible on the crucial issue of Saturday pay, Sir David wrote to me yesterday advising that a negotiated solution is not realistically possible.

"He has asked me to end the uncertainty… by proceeding with the introduction of a new contract… I have therefore today decided to do that.”

Earlier, the chief executive of NHS England Simon Stevens said that it was “right” to force a change in contracts on junior doctors.

The move comes after union leaders failed to back the Government’s “best and final” offer.

The British Medical Association was given until Wednesday afternoon to agree to the offer - a deadline that was missed.

Instead the BMA again called on Jeremy Hunt to accept its own proposed pay model and withdraw his threat to force through changes.

Mr Hunt said the new contract would reduce the maximum number of hours a junior doctor could work to 72 a week, give additional pay to those working Saturday evenings from 5pm, nights from 9pm and all day on Sunday, make plain time hours on Saturday from 7am to 5pm but to increase basic pay by 30% for those working one in four or more Saturdays.

Overall, Mr Hunt added, when compared to the hours junior doctors do now, it would lead to an increase in their pay of 13.5% - not the 11% previously expected.

Labour responded by accusing Mr Hunt of using the dispute as a “symbolic fight” for the delivery of seven-day services.

Its front bench spokesman on health Heidi Alexander said: “Everyone, including the BMA, agrees with the need to reform the current contract. Hardly anyone thinks the need to do that is so urgent that it justifies imposition and all the chaos that will bring.”