WORCESTER’S MP Robin Walker has said he is ‘desperately disappointed’ over planned strikes by junior doctors next week which could cause disruption at the city’s hospital.
A breakdown in talks between the Government and the British Medical Association has led to the 24-hour walk-out next Tuesday, January 12 after the two-sides failed to reach an agreement on a new contract.
Strikes are going ahead as a result of Government plans to reduce the pay junior doctors receive at weekends, in an attempt to reduce health budget costs so Conservative ministers can introduce their flagship policy of a seven day NHS service.
Mr Walker told the Observer he hopes a deal can be reached before next Tuesday to put a halt to the industrial action and claims ministers and the BMA have shortened the list of disagreements they have over the new contract.
“I am desperately disappointed that talks have broken down again,” Mr Walker said.
“I support negotiations being resumed as soon as possible and hope a deal is reached before the strikes go ahead.
“There are a lot of things the Government and the BMA have reached agreement on.”
Services at Worcestershire Royal Hospital are likely to be affected next Tuesday, but hospital bosses are drawing up contingency plans to try and ease some of the disruption as a result of the industrial action.
Dr Andy Phillips, Interim Medical Director for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Along with all NHS providers, we are drawing up contingency plans to ensure that we run safe services and we would like to reassure both staff and patients that we expect to provide as full a service as we possibly can during this period.
“We have tried and tested plans to deal with a range of disruptions and we would like to thank our staff for their continued support and commitment during this period,” he added.
