Junior doctors strike talks to go to Acas

JUNIOR doctor representatives and the government will meet the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) later this week in an attempt to avert strike action.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said junior doctors would take strike action for the first time in 40 years after the latest round of negotiations in the long-running row ended on Monday.

The BMA has now written to all NHS trusts across the country notifying them that there will be a 24-hour strike from 8am on Tuesday, January 12 by all junior doctors, except those on call to provide emergency cover.

There will also be a 48-hour strike, which will also not involve doctors on emergency cover, from 8am on Tuesday, January 26.

All junior doctors will walk out on strike between 8am and 5pm on Wednesday, February 10.

But an ACAS spokesman said: "We have invited the sides involved in the junior doctors' dispute for Acas talks this Friday. Talks are expected to start at 10am."

The BMA said on its website it had "consistently and clearly asked the government for the key assurances it would need in order to re-enter negotiations."

A spokesman said: "These assurances have still not been given to us. In September, the BMA’s junior doctors committee took the decision to ballot junior doctor members on support for industrial action.

“We have continued to request the key assurances for genuine negotiations. 

“The result of the ballot of more than 37,000 junior doctors in England was announced on November 19, with more than 99 per cent having voted in favour of industrial action short of a strike and 98 per cent for full strike action, demonstrating the strength of feeling among the profession.”