Once the Rubicon is crossed and action begins, it inevitably leads to a breakdown in trust between strikers and employers as well as friction among colleagues, to the detriment of patient care. Indeed, since the BMA insists this dispute is not about pay but patient safety, it is hard to understand how doctors can refuse to return to work when asked to do so if managers judge that emergency cover is dangerously low, as happened in two hospitals yesterday. They cannot have it both ways.
"The legacy of this strike will be long-lasting and harmful to all concerned, including the patients"
Yet the BMA is planning two more strikes, including an all-out stoppage next month without emergency cover. Since even yesterday’s limited action forced the cancellation of hundreds of routine operations and consultations, a complete walkout would be potentially life-threatening, especially when winter brings greater risk of illness.
This dispute is still being arbitrated through Acas and it was wrong to call a strike while a settlement remained achievable. In the end, it can only be resolved through negotiations and these are never assisted by industrial action, not least when it becomes politicised. Labour, which wants to “weaponise” the NHS to damage the Tories, will exploit the dispute while avoiding bigger questions about funding.
The legacy of this strike will be long-lasting and harmful to all concerned, including the patients, whose interests the BMA claims to represent but doesn’t, and to the reputations of junior doctors. Although they voted overwhelmingly for strike action, many must now have misgivings. They need to make themselves heard before it gets out of hand.
Source: http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/579309/s/4cd1aa7b/sc/6/l/0L0Stelegraph0O0Ccomment0Ctelegraph0Eview0C120A9640A90CThe0Ejunior0Edoctors0Estrike0Ewill0Eleave0Ea0Ebitter0Elegacy0Bhtml/story01.htm