BMA accused of ‘politically motivated’ plot to deliver down Tory Government

Aug 11, 2023 at 10:13 AM
BMA accused of ‘politically motivated’ plot to deliver down Tory Government

The Junior Doctors union has mentioned they wouldn’t be prepared to simply accept a pay provide from the UK Government that’s just like the one supplied by the Scottish Government, and which has prevented strike motion north of the border.

Speaking on the Today Programme, Dr Rob Laurenson – co-chair of the Junior Doctors Committee on the BMA – instructed their opposition to a pay deal in England is due to ideological variations with the Tories.

A supply near the Health Secretary has now mentioned the interview is final proof that the union is barely centered on bringing down the elected Conservative Government.

Asked whether or not they would settle for the form of deal that Scottish members are pondering of accepting, Dr Laurenson replied: “No because the Governments are very different.”

“The Scottish Government, there’s a basis to have a relationship and a working relationship to negotiate in the future, the Government [in Westminster] that we have today are hellbent on using the rigged independent pay review body to suppress our pay.”

Presenter Justin Webb interrupted to level out “to a patient who is not able to go to hospital today, who has had something cancelled, who is desperately worried possibly in pain, it really does sound ideological – the reasons you won’t do the kind of deal with the Westminster Government that you seem to be willing to do in Scotland”.

The BMA spokesperson retorted that what’s ideological is “the Government cutting our pay for 15 consecutive years, which is driving doctors away”.

“We’re trying to fix a massive workforce crisis, that’s our ideology, it’s to try and actually fix the issues that we have in delivering high quality care to the people of this country and I think that’s a good ideology to have.”

Responding to the interview, a supply near Steve Barclay advised the Express: “This is a clear admission from the BMA junior doctors leadership that their strikes are part of a politically-motivated campaign aimed at bringing down the government”. 

“This industrial action is not in the interests of ordinary doctors in training or of patients.

“We are delivering a good pay award averaging 8.8% for docs in coaching with 10.3% for the bottom earners. The BMA ought to finish their strikes instantly.”

Dr Laurenson had been introduced on to the present following an article from Health Secretary Steve Barclay this morning demanding docs finish their strikes and cease harming sufferers.

Mr Barclay accuses the BMA of being reckless with pointless walkouts, and insists medics have had a considerable rise that’s extra beneficiant than different public sector pay offers.

“Doctors will receive a substantial uplift. In fact, it’s one of the most generous pay uplifts across the entire public sector.

“Yet, the BMA continues to act recklessly by going ahead with further unnecessary strike action this week, which serves only to harm patients and put further pressure on their own colleagues.”

Junior docs started a fifth spherical of commercial motion at 7am this morning, which is able to proceed till 7am on Tuesday.

Figures printed final night time confirmed that strikes by junior docs have price the NHS round £1 billion up to now.

16 days of commercial motion have rapidly added as much as a whole lot of thousands and thousands to cowl absent workers, disruption, and making up for misplaced appointments.

7.6 million individuals are actually ready for care – one individual in each three households – with the ready record rising 102,000 in June following a three-day strike.

Rishi Sunak has made reducing NHS ready lists certainly one of his prime 5 priorities, however admitted progress has stalled due to the strikes.