The BMA is warning NHS England that its change in approach to planning for this week’s resident doctors strikes will risk patient safety for both those seeking routine and emergency treatment.
In previous rounds of strike action over the last decade, it was agreed that elective or scheduled procedures must be postponed to free-up senior doctors to cover for resident doctors in emergency and urgent care, maintaining safe services.
However, for this year’s strikes, which are due to begin on Friday (notwithstanding any breakthrough in talks between the BMA and Government), the chief executive of NHS England Sir Jim Mackey has instructed hospitals to continue scheduled non-urgent care.Following a meeting with NHS England today, the BMA has written1 to Sir Jim, outlining its concern that this change in direction is not only causing frustration and confusion to hospital leaders, but that it will put patients at risk.
The letter, from BMA council chair Dr Tom Dolphin and deputy council chair Dr Emma Runswick, says:
“It is vital that hospital care must adapt on strike days to the levels of staff available, as the foundation of ensuring that strikes are safe for patients is that more senior doctors are able to cover for those residents who are on strike in all urgent care. Your decision to instruct hospitals to run non-urgent planned care stretches safe staffing far too thinly, and risks not only patient safety in urgent and emergency situations, but in planned care too. It also appears designed to lead to far more late, same-day cancellations for patients. Consultants cannot safely provide elective care and cover for residents at the same time.
“We are aware that many hospital leaders are equally worried about this new change in policy from NHS England, which is starkly different from how services were planned during industrial action under the previous government, and different to all the agreements we have reached with NHS England since 2015.
“We therefore strongly urge you to reconsider your instructions to hospitals, which should be preparing now to postpone non-urgent planned activity in order to provide a safe urgent and emergency service in keeping with the levels of staff available.”
In addition to the cancellation of scheduled, non-urgent procedures, the BMA and NHS England had previously agreed a national ‘derogations’ process, whereby hospitals can request to have striking doctors return to work in the event of an unforeseen emergency or mass casualty event.
The BMA says it is still committed to this process, but that it must not be used to facilitate non-urgent planned care going ahead on strike days.
Ends
Notes to editors
The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.
- Read the letter from the BMA.
- The previous agreement, as per March 2023, is outlined here, and as per December 2023, here.