Victoria Atkins says she wants to examine ‘pay and conditions’ for junior doctors but also acknowledges that ‘many, many’ of them do not support BMA
During the time when British troops were engaged in Afghanistan, it was customary for the prime minister to make a brief visit just before Christmas to demonstrate the government’s support for their efforts and for the armed forces in general. Currently, the army is not involved in any wars, but Rishi Sunak upheld this tradition on Monday by visiting a military base in northern Scotland.
Today, Keir Starmer is doing his own version of this by visiting British troops at a Nato base in Estonia. In terms of photo opportunities, he has outshined Sunak. In their pre-visit briefing, Labour emphasized that Starmer would be near the border with Russia. The pictures are more striking than those of Sunak at RAF Lossiemouth. Starmer’s extended visit to Cop28 was a prime example of how Labour aims to present him as a prime ministerial figure, and today’s visit follows the same playbook.
I believe we must be mindful of the threat from Russia to Europe, to the UK, and the interference that occurs.
That’s why there is a real sense of purpose at this base, especially since the conflict in Ukraine. The threat from Russia is real and ongoing, measured in years, and also felt back home in the UK.
The junior doctors committee determined the date of their strikes. They chose to strike three days leading up to Christmas and have now also chosen the worst week in the NHS’s calendar [the first week in January] to be on strike.
There will be many doctors listening to this who will feel deeply uncomfortable that their committee has called for these strikes at this time. I would encourage anyone who feels this way, quietly, to consider whether this committee truly represents their views.
Having successfully reached fair and reasonable offers for consultants and specialty doctors, I would say the evidence speaks for itself. I have demonstrated that I am willing and eager to find agreements.
It’s not just about pay; although pay is crucial, this year alone, junior doctors have already received a pay increase of approximately 8.8%. The most junior doctors, those in their first and second year, have received the highest pay increases within the range, up to 10.3%, because as a government, we understand and have listened to what the doctors are telling us.
But I also want to do more than that. I don’t just want to focus on pay; I also want to address their working conditions. When I visit hospitals and speak to doctors, they tell me that one of the things they want is to feel valued. I completely understand that and I want to collaborate with them to make that happen.
We have always stated that if there are strikes occurring at the moment that impact patients and the public, we will not engage in negotiations. However, the moment they call off the strikes, I will be back at the negotiating table.
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2023-12-21 05:18:49
Link from www.theguardian.com
