- SGoRR will meet on Monday to consider contingency planning
options.
First Minister will chair a meeting this
morning ahead of potential industrial action by junior doctors
later this month.
The Scottish Government Resilience Room will be activated for a
meeting to discuss the significant impact a junior doctors’
strike will have on patients and to explore what mitigations can
be put in place – while pay negotiations continue.
The meeting will include an update on continuing negotiations
with the British Medical Association (BMA), an explanation of
significant impacts on the NHS and an assessment of contingency
plans.
Joining the First Minister at the meeting will be the Deputy
First Minister, the Health Secretary and other health ministers,
the Chief Medical Officer, and senior representatives from the
NHS in Scotland.
The First Minister said:
“Junior doctors make an extremely important contribution to NHS
Scotland – which is why we have offered a fair and progressive
rise which will mean a cumulative pay increase of 14.5% over two
years, the best offer on the table in the UK. We have been clear
to the BMA that we are willing to match the pay uplift we have
given to nurses, midwives, and other Agenda for Change staff, for
junior doctors.
“This is the biggest investment in junior doctor pay for the last
20 years and a step forward to modernising pay bargaining,
restoring confidence among junior doctors and ensuring their
contribution to our healthcare system is appropriately
recognised.
“While I am disappointed that BMA Scotland members are proceeding
with plans for industrial action, the Scottish Government will
continue to work with NHS Scotland to make sure appropriate
contingency plans are in place in order to minimise any potential
disruption to services. However, we have to be upfront with the
public, a junior doctors’ strike will cause major disruption and
result in the significant cancellation of treatment, surgery and
care the NHS is able to provide.”
