Wednesday 4th November
It’s all a little overwhelming.
Today, Jeremy Hunt has released a
revised version of the new contract for junior doctors, and it’s a classic
piece of “the Tories giveth, and the Tories taketh away”. For instance, it
contains an 11% pay rise, but it also has pay cuts for unsociable hours.
The issue has been rolling on
since the election, and with particular focus on the new definition of sociable
hours as being from 7am to 10pm – the kind of working day which leaves time for
you to dash home, have a quick drink and then take your anger and frustration
out on those around you as you put another brick in the wall of your inevitable
marital breakup.
It also raises concerns about
patient safety, with the possibility that they would be treated by “zombie
doctors”. However, the definition of normal hours on a Saturday has been
changed to from 7am to 7pm, and the Care Quality Commission has been asked to
ensure that junior doctors will not be overworked.
Regardless, the BMA isn’t having
any of it and are refusing to go the negotiating table. This morning, Dr Johann
Malawana from the BMA didn’t so much explain the logic behind this (they don’t
think it’ll be an actual negotiation and want a guarantee that the contract
will not just be imposed). He seemed to simply repeat “it’s megaphone diplomacy”
several times. Which was banal. Some Junior Docs on twitter were much more
direct.
It’s just a bit murky. There seems
to be politicking and manipulations going on everywhere, and I for one don’t
know what to think. I mean, instinctively I want to trust the junior doctors
because… well, they’re doctors. I like trusting doctors. As soon as I stop
trusting doctors, I go on the internet and convince myself that I’ve got diphtheria*.
And, instinctively, I don’t trust Jeremy Hunt because… well, he’s Jeremy Hunt.
But this new offer seems to deal
with some concerns, but the BMA seem cross that this has even happened and it
came across like an angry teenager shouting “Not talking to you!”
Besides, the whole thing is
probably a distraction from the fact that Theresa May is now giving police and
intelligence officers the power to look at your last year’s worth of browsing
data. Which seems a little scary.
I shall now go and watch old
episodes of The Bill, so that if I am
arrested they’ll be able to see how it’s done.
*I don’t have diphtheria.**
**I think.
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