Striking junior doctors accused of wanting to ‘bring down the Government’ instead of caring for patients

STRIKING junior doctors have been accused of wanting to “bring down the Government” instead of caring about patients.

There is fury that this weekend’s pay walkouts seem to be politically motivated.

The latest strike action is set to push the number of affected appointments over one million.

It will also add to the £1billion bill hospitals face to cover shifts.

The political row was sparked as Dr Rob Laurenson, junior doctors’ leader at the British Medical Association, said he would shoot down a breakthrough pay offer.

Strikes are suspended in Scotland as BMA members vote on a 12.4 per cent rise.

Asked if he would accept the same here, Dr Laurenson told the BBC yesterday: “No, because the governments are very different.

"With the Scottish Government there’s a basis for having a working relationship to negotiate in the future.

“The Government we have are hellbent on using the pay review body to suppress our pay.”

A source close to the Health Secretary Steve Barclay said: “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 or patients.”

Tory Member of the Scottish Parliament Stephen Kerr added: “Turning healthcare into a political football is unacceptable.”

Ministers are not prepared to budge from pay rises 8.8 to 10.3 per cent.

The BMA said: “The strike in England is not aimed at ‘bringing down’ the Government.

“A change of government wouldn’t end this dispute, only a fair pay deal will.”