Junior doctors scrap plans for series of five-day strikes over the next three months

JUNIOR doctors in England have cancelled plans for a series of five-day strikes over the course of the next three months. 

Planned walkouts scheduled for October, November and December across the nation have been scrapped over concerns for patient safety.

The British Medical Association (BMA) revealed it reached the decision following feedback from doctors, patients and the public, as well as talks with NHS England.

The announcement, made today as the Junior Doctors Committee (JDC) elected a new leadership team, comes just weeks after the BMA suspended a strike that was set to go ahead this month.

The JDC said it remains in dispute with the government over the strike action.

The organisation has revealed it is planning a "range of other actions" to combat the Department of Health's plan to impose new contracts.

The government has said the demonstrations, organised in protest against a new contract, are without merit.

The long-running dispute between junior doctors and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt previously reached boiling point when doctors protested in January this year.

The Department of Health believes the new contract will effectively kickstart a seven-day NHS, but junior doctors disagree with its implementation.

They say Jeremy Hunt's proposed new contract, which will essentially see them working longer hours for less pay, will endanger patients' lives.

Speaking on the latest development, Dr Ellen McCourt, chairwoman of the BMA Junior Doctors Committee, said today: "We still oppose the imposition of the contract and are now planning a range of other actions in order to resist it, but patient safety is doctors' primary concern and so it is right that we listen and respond to concerns about the ability of the NHS to maintain a safe service.

"We hope the government will seize this opportunity to engage with junior doctors and listen to the range of voices from across the NHS raising concerns about doctors' working lives and the impact of the contract on patient care."

Earlier this week, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "The junior doctors' dispute... it is in my view unethical to potentially inflict harm to patients in pursuit of what is a self-interested campaign."

The Department of Health has welcomed news of the suspension in a statement: "The best way to rebuild trust now is for industrial action to be called off permanently in the interests of patients - and we urge the BMA to do so."

The strikes had been scheduled for October 5, 6, 7, 10 and 11, November 14 to 18 and December 5 to 9.

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