Junior doctors must step back, BMA chief cautions

Dr Mark porter, head of the British Medical Association (BMA) has urged junior doctors to take a step back before considering indefinite strikes.

The news comes as hospitals have been warned to prepare for a potential new wave of strikes, after leaked emails revealed that the junior doctor’s committee was considering escalating industrial action as part of its opposition against the government’s plans to impose the new junior doctor contract.

However, Porter warned that junior doctors should ‘take soundings’ and think hard before going too far. The BMA’s junior doctors committee is set to meet on Saturday 7 May to discuss its options, with decisions to be taken to the union’s full council the following week.

He said: "Every now and again it's important to take a step back and look at things in a less immediately reactive way. Every now and again it's important to take a step back and look at things in a less immediately reactive way.”

When asked whether he would back indefinite strikes, Dr Porter said: “I’ll wait and see what Saturday brings. Honestly, I’ve got no opinion on it. The fact we had a behind the scenes set of all the options we were thinking about leaked is a minor embarrassment.”

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This story was first published in digitalhealth.net

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