The talks between Health Secretary Steve Barclay and the young doctors were “just a façade,” the doctors said when talks ended without an agreement.
The British Medical Association (BMA) accused the Minister of Health of procrastination and said the young doctors’ strikes would continue as planned this month. They expressed disappointment after meeting with Mr. Barclay, who told them that he could not negotiate a new wage agreement and had to inform the Prime Minister.
Dr. Robert Lawrence and Dr. Vivek Trevedy, co-chair of the BMA junior physicians’ committee, described Mr. Barclay as “retarded” and asked why Rishi Sunak was not present at the meeting.
Dr. Lorenson said: “We came here with a mandate and [Steve Barclay] turned out to be missing one. There was never a real prospect of real negotiations or proposals – it was just a facade.”
Up to 47,600 doctors trained in England have been on strike for 72 hours since March 13 without essentials. Eleven days before the start of the strike, Dr. Lawrenson that Barclay did not name a time frame for negotiations.
He added: “The government does not take us seriously. I don’t see how the government can look at a mandate that is one of the strongest sectoral mandates in history and basically didn’t make any preparations or bring anything up for discussion.”
Meanwhile, NHS leaders welcomed the news that the government has invited all health workers’ unions involved in strikes to sit down and speak out. Health workers unions are considering an invitation to formal pay negotiations through the NHS Staff Council, which includes representatives from health workers unions, NHS employers, Health and Welfare and NHS England. This is followed by complaints from the leader of the union section of the council about the government’s handling of the wage dispute.
The group of 13 unions includes four – Unison, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, GMB and Unite – which are currently involved in labor disputes over NHS wages, staff and patient care. In the letter, unions called for caution over the government’s decision to hold unilateral talks with the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), saying the move could prolong strikes.
A union source told me I The invitation was proof that the government “failed” to start negotiations with the RCN without consulting other health workers’ unions. Unions need certainty before agreeing to a meeting, such as a promise that there will be no parallel talks and whether the wage improvement agreement will be fully funded or should come from existing budgets, the source said.
Sarah Gorton, trade union leader on the NHS staff council and head of health at Unison, said: “Health unions need to clarify the basis on which discussions about the NHS workers’ council can begin. This also includes understanding the status of the unilateral negotiations that have taken place with the RCN.”
Elaine Sparks, secretary of the NHS union group and deputy director of the Certified Society of Physiotherapists, said: “Once the picture is clear, the unions will decide what to do next.”
GMB and Unite ambulance workers will go on strike on Monday, while Unison workers will go on strike on Wednesday. Nurses will join the fundraiser for blood donations, healthcare workers, cleaners, porters and paramedics next week.
The government’s invitation comes 24 hours after GMB paramedics announced stricter exemptions for the next series of strikes. Paramedics used to work around the clock to resolve complex life and health issues with individual trusts. But in a sign of escalating tensions, paramedics will now exacerbate anomalies – in many cases only responding to the most life-threatening calls, known as Category 1 calls.
Last month, the RCN said it was pausing the strike to start “intensive negotiations” with the government about “wages, working conditions and productivity-enhancing reforms.”
Matthew Taylor, Executive Director of the NHS Confederation, said: “Health leaders welcome the news that the government has offered to open negotiations with all unions involved in the strikes. We have repeatedly asked the government to start negotiations with all trade unions, and this is a very positive step in the right direction.
“We hope that all unions representing healthcare workers in the NHS will accept this olive branch of government and be ready to sit down at the negotiating table as soon as possible to reach a compromise with the government.
“We need to end this war of attrition that we have seen over the past few months and get back on track, continue to work on NHS waiting lists and treat as many patients as quickly as possible.”
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.