The findings from a survey of the public reveal a majority believe the Government should reopen pay talks and, crucially, should use the funds associated with covering industrial action to settle the pay dispute.
The BMA-commissioned survey asked members of the public how they thought the Government should have used the money spent on strikes so far. Over 63% of respondents said the Government should have used that money to pay doctors and settle the dispute. The public was also asked, “How important or unimportant do you believe it is that the Government re-opens talks with the BMA? 70% of respondents said it was important or very important. Another 43% of those asked in the survey believe the Government is giving too little attention to issues around doctors pay.
The Government broke down negotiation talks with junior doctors in England back in May and at the time of the survey, it had been over 170 days since there were any formal negotiations between the Health Secretary and consultants. Over the weekend, in what the BMA sees as a significant step forward by the Government, there were fresh talks between the Government and consultants but at this stage, an agreement has not been reached.
Consultants began their latest round of strike action yesterday, and today is a coordinated day of action from junior doctors and consultants in England, with “Christmas Day” cover, from both groups. Junior doctors will continue their strike with a full walkout until Saturday of this week with consultants return to work. A further three days of joint action are planned for next month.
BMA consultants committee chair Dr Vishal Sharma said: “It is beyond doubt, from this survey, that patients and the public want to see the Government working with doctors to bring an end to industrial action. We have been asking for months for negotiations to reopen and for the Government to put an offer on the table. The fact that there have been some constructive conversations with Government representatives is encouraging but it is crucial that formal talks commence and that the Government provides us with a credible offer that we can put to our members.
“We do not want to strike. We want to be on wards, in operating theatres and in clinics with our patients – the same patients that may well have taken part in this opinion poll. This survey shows those patients, and the wider public would far rather the Government got back round the table with us. We can only hope ministers listen and recognise the strength of feeling - from the public as well as doctors – that we can move towards a resolution of this dispute if the Government would agree to resume formal negotiations with the BMA."
