𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Fury in the heart of Government at the doctors’ trade union has erupted into the open with England’s care minister accusing the BMA of turning the organisation into a “farce” and endangering patient safety as winter nears. Resident doctors – the new name for junior doctors – are due to go on strike from Friday until Wednesday in what will be the 13th walk-out since March 2023. The BMA has rejected the latest offer, which included speeding up the expansion of training places and covering exam fees.

Meanwhile, the Government and the union are in a stand-off over the Government’s directive to GPs to embrace online booking in order to avoid the 8am scramble to book an appointment via telephone, with doctors raising safety concerns.

Stephen Kinnock, the minister of state for care, said: “The current leadership of the BMA, whether on the GP committee or Resident Doctors committee, seem determined to turn their organisation into a farce. We’ve always been clear that we want to work constructively with the BMA – but they stand resolutely in the way of changes vital for patient care, and for the progress their members want to see too.

“This latest escalation is founded on untruths and will put patient safety at risk at a critical time ahead of winter.”

Dr Tom Dolphin, who chairs the BMA’s council, insisted doctors cared “deeply” about patients, saying: “Our GP committee repeatedly warned the Government that making promises to the public it could not keep about online access would push some practices to the brink, reduce available appointments and risk urgent queries being missed.”

Care minister Mr Kinnock said: It’s ludicrous to say the Government has betrayed general practice – we have placed GPs at the heart of our 10 Year Health Plan, provided a funding boost of £1.1billion, recruited 2,500 more GPs and cut red tape – as well as launched a review into the distribution of GP funding.”

Shadow Health Secretary Stuart Andrew said doctors’ strikes should be banned.

He said: “While Labour and the BMA are busy fighting amongst themselves, it’s patients who are paying the price. Labour’s long-awaited 10-year NHS plan has already fallen apart.

“Behind the headlines there is no real reform, no credible delivery plan, and no courage to take the difficult decisions needed to fix our health service. Their failure to stand up to the militant BMA leadership, with another round of resident doctors’ strikes next week, shows exactly why Labour cannot be trusted to deliver meaningful change.

“Patients deserve a strong government that will deliver the reforms needed to improve care and secure the NHS for the future. But Keir Starmer has shown he is a weak Prime Minister who breaks his promises, leaving our NHS stuck in crisis.

“That is why the next Conservative government would ban doctors’ strikes, just like we do the army and police.”