Next junior doctors strike will ‘irreparably damage’ trust in profession, warns NHS boss

Walk-out: Stars from the hit comedy Green Wing joined doctors on the picket during a strike earlier this week
Jeremy Selwyn
10 April 2016

England’s NHS medical director Sir Bruce Keogh has claimed that the next junior doctors' strike will "irreparably damage" trust in the profession.

Doctors are set to withdraw emergency cover for the first time in the industrial action over changes to contracts when they strike later this month.

Sir Bruce branded the move a “watershed moment” and said it ran “against the grain” of the health service.

Writing in the Observer, he said: "By withdrawing emergency cover, we risk crossing a line, which will irreparably damage this trust and the reputation of our profession.

"So I encourage every doctor considering withdrawing emergency cover to dig deep and ask whether such action is fair to patients or compatible with the values and privilege of being a doctor."

He added: "I worry that the withdrawal of emergency cover will put our sickest, most vulnerable patients at greater risk.”

The BMA representative for junior doctors, Dr Johann Malawana, said none of his colleagues wanted to take the action but they had been "left with no choice" and called for the Government to resume negotiations.

He said: "Junior doctors would rather be in hospital, doing what they do, day in, day out: caring for patients.

"But they have already done everything else in their power to make their voices heard - protests, marches, petitions, emergency care only strikes. By continuing to ignore them, the Government has left them left with no choice."

Dr Malawana added that he regretted any disruption to patients and said that other doctors and staff would provide emergency care for those who need it.

The planned walk-out will begin on Tuesday, April 26 for 18 hours from 8am.

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