Junior doctor leader apologises to furious colleagues after holidaying during the strike
THE junior doctors’ leader under fire for holidaying during their strike has apologised to colleagues for “undermining” them.
Union chief Dr Rob Laurenson, 28, is on annual leave at a wedding while thousands of medics lose pay on picket lines.
Messages posted online reveal the British Medical Association rep has been forced to defend himself to a group of cheesed off GPs.
Writing to the Facebook group Resilient GP, Dr Laurenson said: “I can see that you feel undermined and I am really sorry my actions have contributed to that.
“Me being physically in a different location shouldn’t change anything.
“I have an amazing co-chair. We have a negotiation team that doesn’t need me and has strict parameters.”
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“I am still in touch, still attending meetings, and still working.”
He said he was invited to the wedding in August 2022 and has been doing union work every day since October, including this week.
It comes after Dr Laurenson’s dad, Ian Laurenson, told The Sun the family is conflicted over the strikes.
Mr Laurenson senior said: “We’re taxpayers – customers of the NHS – and he’s on the other side, wanting more money.”
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Home Office minister Chris Philp said on Thursday he hoped medics would suspend strike action to start talks with the Health Secretary, Steve Barclay.
The current four-day walkout – thought to involve 30,000 doctors and see up to 350,000 appointments cancelled – began on Tuesday and ends at 7am Saturday.
Mr Philp said: “I think it would be constructive if they would just suspend the strikes while talks take place.
“If they're willing to do that, then I think the Secretary of State's door is very much open.”