NHS Confederation - Junior doctor contract decision

15 Feb 2016 05:04 PM

A decision has been made by the Government to bring in a new junior doctors contract.

The issue now for the NHS Confederation and its members is twofold: to focus on improving relations with junior doctors who are a valuable part of our workforce. Secondly, through NHS Employers to work with trusts to ensure that they have the necessary support to introduce a new contract.

Background:

The decision made by the Government followed protracted discussions between Sir David Dalton and the BMA. The BMA rejected the ‘best and final proposal.’ Sir David Dalton wrote to the Secretary of State to update him of the progress made to date. This included a separate statement signed by the NHS Confederation, NHS Employers, NHS Providers and Trust Chief Executives. The statement agreed to by the Chief Executives confirmed that the best and final position was considered fair and reasonable, and that the NHS needed certainty and not continuation of the stalemate. The statement signed by the Chief Executives did not refer to imposition of the contract, which is a matter for Government. No signatory was asked to support imposition. It is important to get the message across that Sir David Dalton’s letter was his own work, separate from the statement that we supported. The NHS Confederation supports that the best and final proposal was fair and reasonable. In the absence of any negotiated agreement and the decisions by the BMA not to negotiate, and by the Secretary of State to introduce the contract, we must now recognise the situation that we are in. We will ensure that employers and junior doctors across the country receive accurate information and the support they need to work through the coming weeks and months.