Petition supporting potential junior doctors strike action reaches 40,000

A petition supporting junior doctors who are considering strike action has gained the support of more than 40,000 people.

The 'British Medical Association, Strike?' petition was set up three days ago to call for support for young medics who are concerned new Government contracts could affect pay levels and lead to them being forced to work more anti-social hours.

According to the petition the forcing through of contract changes, which are due to be enforced from August 2016, would result in "unsafe working hours and a pay cut estimated to be around 30%" due to the reclassification of what is considered a junior doctor's normal working week.

The Department of Health said the proposals offered junior doctors a better deal by "enhancing the quality and quantity of training opportunities for junior doctors" and giving a higher basic rate of pay "with a significant increase in basic salary".

The petition reads:

Contract changes will come into force next year after being confirmed by the Department of Health following the breakdown of negotiations with the British Medical Association’s junior doctors committee.

The Department of Health said that they had been disappointed when the BMA decided not to re-enter negotiations with them over the contracts saying "there is independent support for an updated contract that puts patients first, increases basic pay and rewards those who work across all clinical specialities."

But the BMA warned that changes that include seeing Saturday evening work treated the same as normal weekday work would not only be "unsafe" but "unfair".

It said: “We urge the government not to impose a contract that is unsafe and unfair. We will resist a contract that is bad for patients, bad for junior doctors and bad for the NHS.”