Heidi Alexander MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, commenting on the announcement that junior doctors will go ahead with industrial action after talks between the BMA and NHS Employers broke down, said:
“Today’s announcement that talks to resolve the junior doctors row have collapsed is deeply disappointing.
“Nobody wants to see industrial action, not least junior doctors. However from day one Jeremy Hunt’s handling of these negotiations has been a complete and utter shambles. There is only one person patients should blame for today’s news and that’s Jeremy Hunt.
“Junior doctors are the backbone of our hospitals, but they have been left feeling demoralised and offended by comments made by Ministers which suggest they don’t already work seven-days a week.
“Before this situation escalates any further, the Government needs to go back to the drawing board and come up with proposals that are fair to junior doctors and safe for patients. This deadlock cannot be allowed to go on.”
ENDS