Jeremy Hunt admits there are 'lessons to be learned' over junior doctors' row - but still blames BMA for the strikes

  • Acrimonious talks between BMA and Government finally ended yesterday
  • Talks followed 5 rounds of industrial action which saw doctors walk out
  • In the last strike alone, more than 125,000 appointments were cancelled
  • More than 55,000 medics will now have to vote over new proposals 

Jeremy Hunt admits 'lessons must be learned' on both sides from the bitter junior doctors' row

Jeremy Hunt admits 'lessons must be learned' on both sides from the bitter junior doctors' row

Jeremy Hunt has admitted lessons must be learned after the 'bitter and protracted' dispute over a new junior doctors' contract.

The Health Secretary said the deal reached last night was a 'win-win' situation for the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Government.

But Mr Hunt said even he had lessons to learn from the experience - but still pinned responsibility for the strikes at the BMA's door.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Hunt said: 'We have all got lessons to learn from what has been, at times, an incredibly bitter and protracted dispute.

'I don't think you can go through what we have been through in the last 10 months and say that everyone hasn't got lessons to learn, including the Health Secretary.

'I don't say I was responsible for the industrial action because I think that was a decision taken by the BMA.'

His comments came after the warring factions finally agreed a deal which is set to end any further strike action.

The two sides reached an agreement after 10 days of fresh talks and three years of acrimonious negotiations over a new contract.

The agreement will be voted on by thousands of junior doctors across England in a ballot on June 17, with results due to be announced on July 6. 

The talks followed five rounds of industrial action which saw junior doctors in England walk out of UK hospitals. 

They also stopped providing emergency care for the first time in NHS history during their most recent walkout, which went on for two days at the end of April.

In the last strike alone, more than 125,000 appointments and operations were cancelled and will need to be rearranged.

This was on top of almost 25,000 procedures cancelled during previous action. 

Mr Hunt said he now has a better appreciation of concerns raised by doctors, but the Government had achieved its aims.

'I think we have come to appreciate that there was a lot of frustration, a lot of anger, felt by junior doctors about things that extend well beyond their contracts.

'I don't think it's helpful to talk about winners and losers in a situation like like this. The Government secured our important red lines for delivering a safer seven-day service. It's also very good for doctors. I think it is a win-win.

'What changed was the brave decision by the leader of the junior doctors' committee of the BMA to have sensible, proper negotiations about weekend premium pay.

'Once he had done that, I think we found that there were lots of other issues that we were able to sort out very quickly.'

Junior doctors stopped providing emergency care for the first time in NHS history during their most recent walkout - but a new deal over pay has finally been reached 

Junior doctors stopped providing emergency care for the first time in NHS history during their most recent walkout - but a new deal over pay has finally been reached 

Yesterday, in a statement, Acas - the independent conciliation service mediating the negotiations - said an agreement has presented to all sides. 

The statement said: 'This has now been agreed by all parties as resolving the current dispute subject to securing the support of BMA junior doctor members in a referendum.

'Work will be done together by both sides over the next two weeks to finalise the communications with BMA members on all the details of the agreement and their new contract. 

'Some elements of the new contract, if approved in the referendum, will be implemented in August this year and all junior doctors will move on to the agreed new terms between October 2016 and August 2017. 

JEREMY HUNT: 'WE WELCOME THIS BREAKTHROUGH'  

The Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said this afternoon: 

'We welcome this significant agreement which delivers important changes to the junior doctors' contract necessary to deliver a safer seven day NHS.

'The talks have been constructive and positive and highlighted many areas outside the contract where further work is necessary to value the vital role of junior doctors and improve the training and support they are given.

'This deal represents a definitive step forward for patients, for doctors, and for the NHS as a whole.' 

'No further industrial action will be called while the referendum is underway.'

The dispute began when the Government took steps to introduce its manifesto commitment of a seven-day NHS.

The key sticking point was around Saturday pay, with the Government arguing it should count as a normal working day but doctors insisting the hours should be paid at an 'unsocial' rate. 

Mr Hunt wanted to change what constitutes 'unsocial' hours for which junior doctors can claim extra pay, turning 7am to 5pm on Saturday into a normal working day.

Currently, 7pm to 7am Monday to Friday and the whole of Saturday and Sunday attract a premium rate of pay for junior doctors.

Despite the Government offsetting this change with a hike in basic pay of 13.5 per cent, it proved to be a sticking point with the BMA. 

Key changes announced on Wednesday are:

* Saturday and Sundays will be counted as normal working days between 9am and 9pm.

* To compensate for losing money on the weekend day shift, doctors will receive a percentage of their annual salary for working more than six weekends in a year.

* This will range from 3 per cent for working one weekend in seven to up to 10 per cent of their salary if they work one weekend in two.

 * The Department of Health says this will make it a third less expensive for hospitals to rosta doctors over the weekend. 

* Doctors who work night shifts will still be paid extra, regardless of the day.

* Any shift which starts at or after 8pm and lasts more than eight hours, and which finishes at or by 10am the following day, will result in an enhanced pay rate of 37 per cent for all hours worked. 

* In the previous deal, night pay was due to be paid at an enhanced rate of 50 per cent. 

* After doctors work three or four night shifts they will be allowed a 46 hour rest period. 

* Rather than the proposed 13.5 per cent basic pay rise, all doctors will now get a between an 10-11 per cent raise. 

* Under the new contract, there will be also be pay premiums for medics working in specialties such as A&E. 

* Junior doctors will not be required to work more frequently than one in two weekends.

* Doctors will be paid on call rates at an enhanced rate of 8 per cent above salary for those working less than one in eight weekends to 18 per cent for those working one in two weekends.

* And in an effort to improve doctors' quality of life, couples who both work in the profession will now be able to apply for joint training programmes so they can work in the same place.

The new deal will be put to a ballot where 55,000 BMA members will be able to vote on whether to accept it

The new deal will be put to a ballot where 55,000 BMA members will be able to vote on whether to accept it

The changes represent a significant shift on the position held by the BMA in previous talks.

Dr Johann Malawana, BMA junior doctor committee chair, said the union was pleased to have reached an agreement.

I believe that what has been agreed today is a good deal for junior doctors and will ensure that they can continue to deliver high-quality care for patients
Dr Johann Malawana, BMA junior doctor committee chair 

'Junior doctors have always wanted to agree a safe and fair contract, one that recognises and values the contribution junior doctors make to the NHS, addresses the recruitment and retention crisis in parts of the NHS and provides the basis for delivering a world-class health service.

'I believe that what has been agreed today delivers on these principles, is a good deal for junior doctors and will ensure that they can continue to deliver high-quality care for patients. 

'This represents the best and final way of resolving the dispute and this is what I will be saying to junior doctors in the weeks leading up to the referendum on the new contract.'.

Now, the new deal will be put to a ballot where 55,000 BMA members will be able to vote on whether to accept it. 

Mr Hunt agreed to pause the introduction of a controversial new contract - due to come into force in August – so the talks could go ahead.

And the BMA agreed to lift the threat of further industrial action – after leaked documents showed they had discussed a 'strike of no return' - where medics would simply not return to the wards until a satisfactory deal was agreed.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: 'This deal represents a definitive step forward for patients, for doctors, and for the NHS as a whole'

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: 'This deal represents a definitive step forward for patients, for doctors, and for the NHS as a whole'

Both parties agreed to return to the negotiating table last week, but Mr Hunt demanded a 'written agreement' from the BMA's junior doctors committee that discussions over the contentious issue of unsocial hours and Saturday pay would be held in 'good faith'. 

In response to the announcement of a resolution around a new junior doctor contract, Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive, NHS Employers said: 'We owe a debt of gratitude to Sir Brendan Barber and ACAS for facilitating these constructive talks. 

'I am grateful to the BMA for their engagement in the process, and am pleased that by working positively together we have identified a way forward which commands their support. 

'NHS Employers extends its thanks to Sir David Dalton for his leadership of our team, and we look forward to working with Dr Malawana and his colleagues in the future.' 

BATTLE ON WEEKEND WORKING

What the Government wanted:

Jeremy Hunt insisted junior doctors work on Saturdays as part of his plans to bring in a more fully functioning seven-day NHS. The current standard working week for junior doctors is 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday. They receive overtime for working outside those hours. But the Health Secretary wanted to extend the normal week to 10pm on weeknights and to include Saturdays up to 7pm. To offset the loss of overtime, the Government was offering a 13.5 per cent rise in basic pay.

What junior doctors wanted:

The British Medical Association union demanded that all junior doctors be paid a premium of 30 per cent more on Saturdays and Sundays regardless of how often they worked. The BMA also called for a 50 per cent increase in pay for night shifts.

What new contract states:

Junior doctors will be paid at standard rates on weekends unless they work more than six a year. Those who work the most weekends will be rewarded on a sliding scale of extra pay on top of basic salaries, from 3 per cent of their pay for one weekend in seven up to 10 per cent if they work one weekend in two. Junior doctors' basic pay will rise by between 10 and 11 per cent and they will get a 37 per cent increase for night shifts, starting from 8pm, whatever the day.

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