The Government is launching a consultation to plans which would require doctors to work during strikes
The plans would extend minimum service level” (MSL) rules to the NHS.
The announcement coincides with the start of a two-day strike by consultants, who will be joined Wednesday by junior doctors with fears of significant disruption as a result of strikes this week.
Under the plans,doctors and other NHS staff would be required to provide “Christmas Day cover,” meaning emergency provision and urgent care, such as treatment for cancer cases which would otherwise deteriorate.
The legislation already covers the ambulance service and fire and rescue
The Health Secretary Steve Barclay announcing the move says
“Their walkouts this year have already led to around 900,000 appointments being cancelled, and I’m concerned that the BMA’s uncompromising threat of indefinite, relentless action means this number will only keep rising.”
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:
“Instead of fixing our crumbling public services and sorting out the chronic retention and recruitment crisis blighting our NHS, ministers are threatening nurses and doctors with the sack for exercising their right to strike.”
