The Health Secretary has promised to negotiate with junior doctors if they enter talks with fair proposals.
Victoria Atkins told the Commons it is time for the British Medical Association’s junior doctors committee (JDC) to demonstrate they want to end their action.
And she stressed a sensible compromise could be hammered out.
The latest junior doctors’ strike in England, the longest in NHS history and which health bosses have said has caused “delay and disruption” to thousands of patients, is due to end at 7am today. Junior doctors in England had said they will not call more
strikes “unless we have to”.
Ms Atkins told the Commons: “If they called off their damaging strike action I would get round the table
with them in 20 minutes.”
“I am extremely disappointed they continue to refuse the offer, because the strikes are ongoing as we speak.”
“But if they come to the negotiating table with reasonable expectations, I will sit down with them.” She also told MPs: “It is time for the junior doctors committee to show that they’re serious about doing a deal.
“They have legitimate concerns about their working lives, and a fair and reasonable deal can be reached.”
“But calling damaging strikes is not the way to achieve this.”
Dr Vivek Trivedi, co-chairman of the JDC, said: “Ultimately, what we’re looking for is an end to this dispute and the first way to do that is to restore the pay cuts that we have had, which will help restore the value in the profession.”
