Junior docs and the federal government are set to enter talks following a 72-hour-strike which noticed greater than 175,000 appointments reorganised.
The British Medical Affiliation (BMA), which represents the clinicians, has pledged they’ll announce new strike dates if the federal government makes a “substandard” provide.
On Friday night, the Division for Well being and Social Care (DHSC) launched a press release which stated: “We deeply remorse that over 175,000 appointments and procedures had been cancelled this week, regardless of our provide to begin formal talks on the situation strikes had been paused.
“Nevertheless, we’re happy the BMA has now accepted our provide to enter talks primarily based on the identical phrases as with the agenda for change unions – which concluded positively this week.
“We wish to discover a truthful settlement which recognises the essential function of junior docs and the broader financial pressures going through the UK, as we have now finished with different unions.”
The federal government earlier this week introduced that they had made a pay offer of 5% plus a one-off cost to the remainder of the NHS on the agenda for change pay scale.
This dictates pay for many NHS employees apart from docs, dentists and senior managers.
However questions remain over the place the additional £4bn for this provide will come from.
Junior docs are calling for full “pay restoration” to deliver them again in step with the equal of what they earned in 2008.
Analysis: Where will the money for a 5% pay deal come from in an underfunded NHS?
That is equal to a 35% pay rise, and would price the federal government one other £1bn based on the BMA.
It’s not clear when talks between the federal government and junior docs will happen, though in an open letter to Well being Secretary Steve Barclay, the BMA stated it was obtainable on Monday and Tuesday subsequent week, and once more on the identical days the week after.
The letter added: “Because it stands there isn’t any additional strike motion introduced.
“We’re prepared to enter talks primarily based on a pause in asserting additional strike motion and first-year non-consolidated cost with a second-year consolidated pay award.
“Nevertheless, we anticipate you to return to the desk in good religion and with a reputable provide in the direction of reaching full pay restoration that we will suggest to our members.”
A tweet from the BMA defined to its members that “within the occasion that any provide is substandard, or the place the talks lack sincerity or progress, we’re totally ready to name for strike motion to focus the minds of the federal government”.