Scotland’s First Minister will chair a meeting of ministers and well being officers to plan contingencies for anticipated junior doctor strikes this month.
The British Medical Affiliation (BMA) introduced final month that junior docs in Scotland would reject a 14.5% pay enhance over two years and strike between July 12 and 15.
Dr Chris Smith, the chair of the BMA’s Scottish junior docs committee, mentioned taking strike motion was an “absolute final resort” and people strolling out have been “standing up for the way forward for the NHS”.
However the First Minister mentioned on Monday there was seemingly to be “main disruption” because of the motion.
A junior docs’ strike will trigger main disruption and outcome within the important cancellation of therapy, surgical procedure and care the NHS is in a position to present
Humza Yousaf, First Minister
On Monday, Humza Yousaf will chair a meeting of the Scottish Authorities Resilience Room (SGoRR) – the equal of the UK Authorities’s Cobra meeting – to plan contingencies.
Talking forward of the meeting, the First Minister mentioned: “Junior docs make an especially vital contribution to NHS Scotland – which is why now we have provided a good and progressive rise which is able to imply a cumulative pay enhance of 14.5% over two years, the most effective supply on the desk within the UK.
“Now we have been clear to the BMA that we’re prepared to match the pay uplift now we have given to nurses, midwives, and different Agenda for Change workers, for junior docs.
“That is the largest funding in junior doctor pay for the final 20 years and a step ahead to modernising pay bargaining, restoring confidence amongst junior docs and guaranteeing their contribution to our healthcare system is appropriately recognised.
“Whereas I’m disenchanted that BMA Scotland members are continuing with plans for industrial motion, the Scottish Authorities will proceed to work with NHS Scotland to be sure that applicable contingency plans are in place so as to minimise any potential disruption to providers.
“Nevertheless, now we have to be upfront with the general public – a junior docs’ strike will trigger main disruption and outcome within the important cancellation of therapy, surgical procedure and care the NHS is in a position to present.”
Deputy First Minister Shona Robison, Well being Secretary Michael Matheson, the chief medical officer Dr Sir Gregor Smith and NHS officers can even be in attendance.
On Monday, Dr Smith mentioned: “Junior docs in Scotland have persistently and strongly made clear that the pay provides made thus far by the Scottish Authorities usually are not but adequate to display a dedication to reverse the years of pay erosion now we have suffered, which has seen pay decreased by 28.5% since 2008.
“No-one can critically argue a junior doctor at the moment is price that a lot lower than a counterpart 15 years in the past. Certainly, our members rejected the Scottish Authorities’s newest supply decisively.
“Until we act now and put money into the way forward for the workforce, we are going to go on dropping docs to locations they’re valued correctly, compromising the care we are able to present to the folks of Scotland now and sooner or later.
“It’s on that foundation now we have reluctantly been pushed to announce strike dates for later this month – and in doing so we gave further time for well being boards and the Scottish Authorities to put together.
“It’s good to see this time getting used successfully – and the seriousness with which planning is being taken exhibits simply how essential a task junior docs play.
“Given the extent of disruption we settle for a strike will trigger, it’s essential that the energetic negotiations we’re nonetheless partaking in with the Scottish Authorities produce the improved supply that we all know is required.”
