Angry junior medics quit shambolic union – claiming their reputations are being tarnished by contract dispute
Junior doctors are quitting the British Medical Association in annoyance at the way their contracts are being negotiated with the government
FRUSTRATED junior doctors are quitting their union in anger at the way they have handled their contract dispute with the government.
The British Medical Association has been inundated with messages from trainee medics who feel their reputation has been tarnished, it’s understood.
Many have also taken to online forums to express their fury, with “alienated” members labelling the organisation “shambolic”and have followed up by quitting.
It comes after union chiefs made an embarrassing U-turn and aborted next week’s planned walkout just days after it was announced.
They had been warned by bosses and senior colleagues that patients’ may be harmed because they had given just 12 days’ notice.
Authorities had also warned striking medics that they may be struck off and their career and training progression may be harmed if they missed too many days at work.
BMA members still plan to walkout of all wards – including A&E and maternity – for five days a month from October to December.
But that is now after the new contract they are protesting about is implemented in a few weeks’ time.
Writing on a Facebook page dedicated to discussion of the new contract, one doctor writes: “And just like that. BMA membership cancelled. Zero confidence left.”
Another says: “I think the next letter I’ll be signing is my resignation from the BMA.”
Others accuse the union of being a joke and a shambles and of failing and alienating members.
Another member writes: “Why are we now starting our strikes after the contract has been implemented?
The phrase ‘the horse has bolted’ comes to mind.”
The BMA and government agreed a new contract in May following lengthy negotiation, but it was rejected by members in a referendum in July.
The union’s general council last week authorised a series of walkouts despite an internal poll showing just 4 per cent of junior doctors in England wanted the five-day walkouts.
They took the decision to abandon the first walkout without consulting the wider membership or returning to the general council for another vote.
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A Department of Health spokesperson said: “The public will be relieved that the BMA has decided to call off the first phase of these unprecedented strikes, so this is welcome news.
“But if the BMA were really serious about patient safety, they would immediately cancel their remaining plans for industrial action which, as the GMC says, will only cause patients to suffer.”