NHS Accuses BMA of "Risking Patient Safety" Over Refusal of Emergency Requests to Break Doctors' Strike

The NHS has accused the British Medical Association (BMA) of "risking patient safety" after it refused emergency requests for striking doctors to return to work, including one for a resident doctor to carry out biopsies on men with suspected prostate cancer at Milton Keynes Hospital. The BMA has rejected 18 requests from NHS hospitals for doctors to break the strike in exceptional circumstances, including in cancer care, despite senior NHS medics requesting derogations in emergency situations.

Key Takeaways:

• The NHS has accused the BMA of "risking patient safety" over its refusal of emergency requests for doctors to break the strike.
• The BMA has rejected 18 derogation requests from NHS hospitals, including one for a resident doctor to carry out biopsies on men with suspected prostate cancer.
• The BMA has granted only nine of 47 derogation requests made by NHS England for 125 doctors, with the rest being refused, withdrawn, or pending.
• Hospitals were instructed to cancel as few procedures and appointments as safely possible, with some keeping 96% of them.
• The BMA has said it will not approve requests for "non-urgent care" and that the record number of derogation requests reflects a "dangerous lack of planning" by NHS hospitals.
• The health secretary, Wes Streeting, praised a doctor who broke the strike to return to work and carry out biopsies, saying it had "ensured these men got the care they deserve".
• Three BMA members were allowed to work an A&E night shift at the Northern General in Sheffield due to the failure to train consultants on a new electronic patient record system.
• King's College Hospital in London had a derogation agreed for its radiology department, but the BMA then revoked it, saying the hospital had made a "false submission".

Statistics:

• 47 derogation requests made by NHS England for 125 doctors.
• 18 requests rejected by the BMA, including one for a resident doctor to carry out biopsies on men with suspected prostate cancer.
• 9 requests granted by the BMA.
• 96% of procedures and appointments kept by some hospitals.
• 29% pay rise sought by junior doctors.

Sources:

• The Guardian
• BBC News
• The Telegraph