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Junior doctors vote to reject new Government contract

Junior doctors who are members of the British Medical Association have voted to reject a new contract agreement with the Government.

Around 58% of the 37,000 junior doctors and medical students who took part in a referendum chose to reject the tabled offer.

Dr Johann Malawana has announced he will stand down from his position as BMA junior doctor committee chair following the result.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the outcome was "extremely disappointing".

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Hunt: Junior doctors' rejection 'extremely disappointing'

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said the majority vote by junior doctors against the Government's new contract was "extremely disappointing".

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt had agreed terms on a proposed contract with the British Medical Association in May. Credit: PA

Hunt said he had hoped the proposed contract would have gained approval after it "was agreed with and endorsed by the leader of the BMA junior doctors' committee".

It is extremely disappointing that junior doctors have voted against this contract, which was agreed with and endorsed by the leader of the BMA Junior Doctors’ Committee and supported by senior NHS leaders.

The BMA’s figures show that only forty per cent of those eligible actually voted against this contract, and a third of BMA members didn’t vote at all. We will now consider the outcome.

– Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said it was "sorry to see (chair of the BMA junior doctor committee) Dr Johann Malawana resign, given his desire to reach a contract agreement".

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Junior doctors vote to reject new Government contract

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