2015 junior doctors contract dispute in England

none A junior doctors contract dispute in England led to industrial action being taken in 2015 and 2016. A negotiation between NHS Employers and the main UK doctor's union, the British Medical Association (BMA), had been overshadowed by the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, threatening to impose certain aspects. The BMA balloted members in November 2015 and industrial action was scheduled for the following month. The initial action was suspended, although further talks broke down. Junior doctors took part in a general strike across the NHS in England on 12 January 2016, the first such industrial action in 40 years. Junior doctors again withdrew their labour for routine care on 10 February. On 26 April 2016, junior doctors withdrew from emergency and routine care, the first time this had happened. thumb|Junior doctors support badges Proposed new contracts Since 2012 NHS Employers and the BMA had been in negotiation towards a new contract for junior doctors. These talks ran into serious problems when the BMA rejected the proposals from the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, who wanted the contracts to reflect commitments made in the Conservative 2015 election manifesto upon junior doctors in England.https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/nov/04/jeremy-hunt-i-cannot-negotiate-on-manifesto-promise-of-24-hour-nhs Jeremy Hunt: I cannot negotiate on manifesto promise of 24-hour NHS Patrick Wintour The Guardian 4 November 2015 3 January 2016 In September 2015, Hunt proposed new contracts for junior doctors which would scrap overtime rates for work between 7am and 10pm on every day except Sunday while increasing their basic pay. Hunt claimed that this would be cost neutral, but the union responded by saying that NHS Employers had been unable to support this claim with robust data.http://bma.org.uk/working-for-change/in-depth-junior-and-consultant-contract/ddrb-recommendations-analysis-for-juniors/junior-doctors-contract-negotiations-faq Junior doctors:Contract proposals for junior doctors British Medical Association 31 October 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151020053608/http://bma.org.uk/working-for-change/in-depth-junior-and-consultant-contract/ddrb-recommendations-analysis-for-juniors/junior-doctors-contract-negotiations-faq 20 October 2015 deadhttps://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/17/leader-of-nhs-junior-doctors-urges-jeremy-hunt-to-reopen-negotiations Leader of NHS junior doctors urges Jeremy Hunt to reopen negotiations Denis Campbell The Guardian 17 October 2015 17 April 2017 The union argued that the contract would include an increase in working hours with a relative pay cut of up to 40%,https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/sep/18/junior-doctors-new-contract-cut-pay-40-per-cent Junior doctors condemn new contract they say could cut pay by 40% Denis Campbell the Guardian 18 September 2015 17 April 2017https://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2015/sep/21/should-junior-doctors-strike-governments-proposed-contract-nhs-poll A new deal would cut pay by 40% and increase the number of antisocial hours. What do you think? Sarah Johnson The Guardian 21 September 2015 17 April 2017https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/nhs/11882906/Why-the-new-NHS-junior-doctors-contract-is-pushing-me-to-Malta.html Why the new NHS junior doctors' contract is pushing me to Malta 23 September 2015 and refused to re-enter negotiations unless Hunt dropped his threat to impose a new contract and extensive preconditions,http://bma.org.uk/news-views-analysis/news/2015/october/step-in-right-direction-on-juniors-contract 'Step in right direction' on juniors contract 23 March 2023 which he had refused to do. The Department of Health responded, saying "We are not cutting the pay bill for junior doctors and want to see their basic pay go up just as average earnings are maintained." On 26 September the BMA announced that it would ballot its members.Junior doctors to be balloted for strike action, says British Medical Association https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/sep/26/junior-doctors-to-be-balloted-for-strike-action-bma The Guardian 26 September 2017 10 October 2015 Press Association By October, a survey showed many junior doctors would consider leaving the NHS if the contract was forced through.https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/20/junior-doctors-thousands-to-leave-nhs-if-hunt-pushes-through-new-contract Junior doctors: 7 in 10 to leave NHS if Hunt pushes through new contract Denis Campbell The Guardian 20 October 2015 17 April 2017 Hunt later tried to re-assure the union that no junior doctor would face a pay cut, before admitting those who worked longer than 56 hours a week would face a fall in pay.https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/30/jeremy-hunt-angers-junior-doctors-by-saying-some-are-paid-danger-money Jeremy Hunt angers junior doctors by saying some are paid "danger money" Rowena Mason The Guardian 30 October 2015 17 April 2017https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/junior-doctors-who-work-the-longest-hours-will-actually-have-their-pay-cut-jeremy-hunt-admits-a6713136.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/junior-doctors-who-work-the-longest-hours-will-actually-have-their-pay-cut-jeremy-hunt-admits-a6713136.html 2022-05-01 subscription live Jeremy Hunt admits junior doctors who work the longest hours will actually have their pay cut Jon Stone The Independent 29 October 2015 17 April 2017http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/your-practice/practice-topics/education/health-secretary-rolls-back-on-claim-that-no-junior-doctors-will-lose-out/20030331.article Health secretary rolls back on claim that no junior doctors will lose out Sofia Pulse Lind 29 October 2015 17 April 2017 He said that working these long hours was unsafe, claiming that existing pay arrangements were known colloquially in the NHS as "danger money", although a Facebook survey carried out by one doctor showed that 99.7% of 1,200 respondents had never heard of the term.https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/oct/30/jeremy-hunt-thinks-im-a-dangerous-doctor Jeremy Hunt thinks I'm a dangerous doctor The Guardian 30 October 2015 On 3 November 2015 Hunt said he would offer a basic pay increase of 11%, but still removing compensation for longer hours.https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/nov/03/jeremy-hunt-offer-junior-doctors-pay-rise Jeremy Hunt offers junior doctors 11% pay rise in bid to end dispute Denis Campbell The Guardian 3 November 2015 17 April 2017http://news.sky.com/story/1581227/payrise-offer-a-pr-stunt-say-junior-doctors Payrise Offer A PR Stunt, Say Junior Doctorshttps://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/junior-doctors-claim-jeremy-hunts-11-pay-rise-will-be-a-pay-cut-of-26-a6720476.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/junior-doctors-claim-jeremy-hunts-11-pay-rise-will-be-a-pay-cut-of-26-a6720476.html 2022-05-01 subscription live Junior doctors claim Jeremy Hunt's 11% pay rise will be a "pay cut" of 26% Rose Troup Buchanan 4 November 2015 17 April 2017 In response, the BMA junior doctors committee chair, Johann Malawana, said: "Junior doctors need facts, not piecemeal announcements and we need to see the full detail of this latest, eleventh hour offer to understand what, in reality, it will mean for junior doctors. We have repeatedly asked for such detail in writing from the Secretary of State, but find, instead, that this has been released to media without sharing it with junior doctors' representatives"http://web2.bma.org.uk/pressrel.nsf/wall/3AB03C434DA5111C80257EF200783421?imgdoctors&OpenDocument BMA responds to Guardian story on Jeremy Hunt's offer to junior doctors British Medical Association 3 November 2015 17 April 2017 19 November 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151119181820/http://web2.bma.org.uk/pressrel.nsf/wall/3AB03C434DA5111C80257EF200783421?imgdoctors&OpenDocument dead and "The proposals on pay, not for the first time, appear to be misleading. The increase in basic pay would be offset by changes to pay for unsocial hours, devaluing the vital work junior doctors do at evenings and weekends."https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/nov/04/junior-doctors-reject-pay-offer-criticise-jeremy-hunt Junior doctors reject "misleading" pay offer and criticise Jeremy Hunt Denis Campbell The Guardian 4 November 2015 17 April 2017 Balloting of BMA members On 5 November 2015, the BMA began its ballot of over 37,700 of their members in response to Hunt's contract proposals.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-34591056 Junior doctors to vote on strike action - British Medical Association Nick Triggle BBC News 21 October 2015 17 April 2017 On 19 November 2015 the result of the strike ballot was announced, with more than 99% in favour of industrial action short of a strike, and 98% voting for full strike action. 76% of eligible doctors voted with 99.6% of doctors voting for action short of strike and 98% voting for all out strike.https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/nov/19/nhs-strikes-junior-doctors-vote-action-bma Junior doctors overwhelmingly vote for NHS strikes Denis Campbell The Guardian 19 November 2015 3 January 2016 After five days of talks between the government and BMA, conciliation service Acas confirmed that agreement had been reached to suspend the strike action that had been planned for December.https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/junior-doctors-strike-called-off-a6755091.html Junior doctors strike called off to grant more time for talks Charlie Cooper The Independent 1 December 2015 3 January 2016 First period of arbitration The BMA council chair, Mark Porter appealed to the health secretary to resume negotiations.http://web2.bma.org.uk/pressrel.nsf/wall/FA279822D63BE5F180257F0200353A1B?imgdoctors=&OpenDocument Junior doctors vote overwhelmingly for industrial action as BMA approaches Acas for conciliatory talks with the health secretary British Medical Association 19 November 2015 17 April 2017 19 November 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151119183908/http://web2.bma.org.uk/pressrel.nsf/wall/FA279822D63BE5F180257F0200353A1B?imgdoctors=&OpenDocument dead https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nhs-junior-doctors-have-overwhelmingly-voted-to-strike-next-month-a6740201.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nhs-junior-doctors-have-overwhelmingly-voted-to-strike-next-month-a6740201.html 2022-05-01 subscription live Junior doctors overwhelmingly vote for NHS strike next month with 98 per cent in favour Jon Stone The Independent 19 November 2015 17 April 2017 Hunt said the strike was "very disappointing", but declined the appeal for arbitration at this time.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-34868934 Junior doctors: Jeremy Hunt says strike vote "very disappointing" BBC News 19 November 2015 He was criticized for failing to answer MPs' questions about the strike, with his deputy claiming he was too busy preparing for the strike.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-hunt-an-absolute-disgrace-for-refusing-to-face-mps-questions-on-junior-doctors-strike-a6741931.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-hunt-an-absolute-disgrace-for-refusing-to-face-mps-questions-on-junior-doctors-strike-a6741931.html 2022-05-01 subscription live Jeremy Hunt an "absolute disgrace" for refusing to face MPs' questions on junior doctors strike Matt Dathan The Independent 20 November 2015 17 April 2017 He was also criticised by statisticians Prof David Spiegelhalter and David Craven, by Dr Mark Porter, by an NHS England spokesperson, and by Heidi Alexander, the shadow health secretary, for, again, making misleading statements about weekend hospital treatment. The Department of Health confirmed his 10% figure actually related to the entire week, even though Hunt specifically said it was for weekend-admitted patients only.https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/nov/18/jeremy-hunt-statement-on-nhs-weekend-hospital-care-is-misleading-experts-warn Jeremy Hunt statement on weekend hospital care is misleading, experts warn Faye Kirkland Denis Campbell The Guardian 19 November 2015 17 April 2017 Hunt eventually agreed to discussions overseen by Acas and withdrew his threat to impose a new contract without agreement, and the first day of strike action was called off hours before it was due to start (too late to avoid some disruption), with later days suspended. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-34965603 Disruption expected as junior doctors' strike called off BBC News 1 December 2015 27 November 2022https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/nov/30/doctors-strike-jeremy-hunt-announces-potential-agreement-with-bma Doctors' strike called off after Hunt lifts threat to impose new contract Denis Campbell The Guardian 30 November 2015 17 April 2017https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/junior-doctors-strike-called-off-a6755091.html Junior doctors strike called off to grant more time for talks Charlie Cooper The Independent 1 December 2015 17 April 2017 Appeal for further arbitration On 24 December 2015, Johann Malawana gave a 4 January deadline for the talks to result an acceptable outcome, or industrial action would be announced.https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/dec/29/junior-doctors-implement-strike-action-plans-nhs-government-talks-falter Junior doctors likely to strike as government talks falter Denis Campbell The Guardian 29 December 2015 17 April 2017 An agreement was not reached by this deadline and so the union announced that a strike would go ahead, blaming "the government's continued failure to address junior doctors' concerns about the need for robust contractual safeguards on safe working, and proper recognition for those working unsocial hours".https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jan/04/junior-doctors-to-strike-next-tuesday-after-talks-with-government-break-down Junior doctors in England to strike next week after talks break down Denis Campbell The Guardian 4 January 2016 17 April 2017https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/junior-doctors-announce-they-will-strike-next-week-a6796396.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/junior-doctors-announce-they-will-strike-next-week-a6796396.html 2022-05-01 subscription live Junior doctors announce they will strike next week Jon Stone The Independent 4 January 2016 17 April 2017 On 8 January, it was revealed that a supposedly independent response to the initial strike plans from Sir Bruce Keogh, medical director of NHS England, had been strengthened by Department of Health officials and approved by Hunt. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/junior-doctors-whitehall-officials-edited-letter-from-independent-medic-to-build-hard-edged-case-a6801501.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/junior-doctors-whitehall-officials-edited-letter-from-independent-medic-to-build-hard-edged-case-a6801501.html 2022-05-01 subscription live Junior doctors: Whitehall edited letter from "independent" medic to build "hard-edged" case against strike Charlie Cooper The Independent 7 January 2016 18 April 2017 https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jan/08/jeremy-hunt-lambasted-for-trying-to-politicise-paris-attacks Jeremy Hunt accused of politicising Paris attacks in doctors dispute Rowena Mason the Guardian 8 January 2016 8 January 2016 Subsequently, more than 1,000 doctors called on Keogh to resign complaining that Hunt had exploited him for political gain.https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/sir-bruce-keogh-more-than-a-thousand-doctors-demand-resignation-of-nhs-medical-director-a6803171.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/sir-bruce-keogh-more-than-a-thousand-doctors-demand-resignation-of-nhs-medical-director-a6803171.html 2022-05-01 subscription live Sir Bruce Keogh: More than a thousand doctors demand resignation of NHS Medical Director Charlie Cooper Oliver Wright The Independent 8 January 2016 8 January 2016 Strikes How did the dispute resolve? June 2025 thumb|Support for the junior doctors dispute from a GP surgery On 12 January 2016, Junior Doctors in England took part in the first general strike across the NHS, the first such industrial action in 40 years. Emergency care was still provided.Triggle Nick https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-35286343 Junior doctors' strike: Treatments postponed amid walkout BBC News 12 January 2016 2016-01-12 Hunt claimed it was "unnecessary", that patients could be put at risk, and that many junior doctors had "ignored" the strike call and worked anyway, but the BMA responded that many junior doctors were in work maintaining emergency care as planned.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/junior-doctors-strike-live-poll-finds-strong-public-support-for-strike-a6807011.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/junior-doctors-strike-live-poll-finds-strong-public-support-for-strike-a6807011.html 2022-05-01 subscription live Junior doctors' strike live: Jeremy Hunt brands strike "unnecessary" as poll shows high public support for stoppage Jon Stone The Independent 4 January 2016 17 April 2017https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-35294637 Junior doctors' strike: Get back to negotiating table - Hunt BBC News 12 January 2016 There were claims that Bruce Keogh, had used performance target levels to justify and encourage NHS trusts to declare an emergency situation, forcing Junior Doctors to work despite the strike, a move which the BMA condemned.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/12093916/Striking-doctors-could-be-ordered-back-in-in-move-which-sparks-fury.html Striking doctors could be ordered back in, in move which sparks fury Telegraph 12 January 2016 2016-01-12 Junior doctors again withdrew their labour for routine care on 10 February 2016, leading to the cancellation of around 3,000 elective operations.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-35535704 BBC News 'Operations hit as doctors strike again 10 February 2016 On 26 April 2016, junior doctors in England embarked on the first strike where they withdrew routine and emergency cover.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-36134103 Junior doctors' strike: All-out stoppage "a bleak day" Nick Triggle BBC News 26 April 2016 18 April 2017 In July 2016 the BMA balloted their members, who voted 58% to 42% against the deal.What deal were they voting against? June 2025 Johann Malawana resigned from the position of chair of the JDC on 5 July 2016.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-36714792 Ministers "looking to impose doctor contract" Nick Triggle BBC News 5 July 2016 Compared with the weeks preceding and following the strikes, there were 9.1% (31,651) fewer hospital admissions, 6.8% (23,895) fewer A&E attendances, and 6% (173,462) fewer outpatient appointments than expected. Altogether during the strikes hospitals cancelled 294,844 outpatient appointments. There was no significant effect on the number of recorded deaths.Junior doctor strikes had "significant impact" on healthcare https://www.onmedica.com/newsArticle.aspx?id=1e4139f5-3007-4e74-bdfb-ccaac336a70c 2 April 2018 OnMedica 20 February 2018 See also 2022–2024 National Health Service strikes References 30em Category:2015 in England Category:2016 in England Category:2015 labor disputes and strikes Category:2016 labor disputes and strikes Category:Labour disputes in England Category:Health and medical strikes Category:Jeremy Hunt