Topic: Junior doctors' row: BMA fears 'uphill struggle' to sell deal (Read 288 times)

Junior doctors' leaders fear they could face an "uphill struggle" to convince the profession to accept the new contract agreed with ministers.It was announced on Wednesday that the two sides had reached a deal after talks at conciliation service Acas.The terms will now be put to a vote of more than 40,000 BMA members in June.But there are fears at the union that the profession could reject the deal despite it believing it is the "best and final" way out of the row.Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt called it a "historic agreement" and a "win-win" for the government and junior doctors.

'Accept terms'
And a host of NHS leaders have already come out to urge junior doctors sign up to it, but there has been some negative reaction on social media from frontline doctors.The British Medical Association has said it will be urging members to accept the terms and will be explaining why in a series of road shows with the profession in the coming weeks once the full contract is published.
Which side has won?The revamped contract includes several major changes from the one which the government announced in February it would be imposing. These include:

The basic pay rise being reduced from 13.5% to between 10% and 11%
Weekends no longer being divided up between normal and unsocial hours, instead a system of supplements will be paid which depend on how many weekends a doctor works over the course of a year
Extra pay for night shifts being reduced from 50% to 37%
Extra support to be made available for doctors who take time out, such as women who go on maternity leave, to enable them to catch up on their training and thus qualify for pay rises - after claims women were being unfairly penalised
Junior doctors getting an enhanced role in advising and liaising with the independent guardians who keep an eye on the hours doctors work

BMA junior doctor leader Dr Johann Malawana said: "What has been agreed is a good deal for junior doctors and will ensure that they can continue to deliver high-quality care for patients."

But behind the scenes there is a concern the BMA may not be able to convince the profession and it could be an "uphill struggle" given the strength of feeling among the frontline.

There is also frustration at what the BMA sees as aggressive briefing from government following the announcement on Wednesday.
Analysis

The fact that something has been agreed is a major breakthrough, but this dispute is still a long way from being over. The problem the BMA faces is that emotions are running so high.

The profession has been incredibly united throughout. Some 98% voted in favour of taking strike action last autumn and whenever union leaders have taken soundings since, the overwhelming sense has been that doctors have wanted to fight on. If this hadn't been the case the leadership would probably have agreed a deal long before now.

The BMA leadership is hoping as the weeks pass and they get a chance to explain the contract and doctors read it for themselves ahead of the vote they will come to share the view that it is the best way forward. Perhaps not better (in terms of weekend pay) than the existing contract, but at the very least an improvement on what was going to be imposed.

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-36330589