I wanted to write with an update of the current position regarding negotiations for consultants in England.
You will no doubt by now have seen the headlines or heard the news that the BMA has announced two days of strikes for November 25th and 26th. We shall keep you as an HDU member informed on your position in light of this news.
As a nationally recognised union, HDU has participated alongside the government and BMA in talks aimed at resolving the dispute.
It is in the interests of no-one to see further strikes and disruption. We are therefore deeply concerned at the unhelpful approach by the government over the past fortnight.
Its decision to table a pay claim well below inflation to the DDRB pay review body seemed calculated to inflame the situation. This has been compounded by its decision today to portray the issues raised by unions around burnout, wellbeing and retention as simply a self-serving exercise.
I shall be part of the HDU delegation to an oral hearing of the DDRB next week and we shall be relaying in no uncertain terms our dismay at the government’s stance.
We shall be calling for a process to restore pay, given consultants have fallen behind more than any other medical group, but also action to address other factors such as reversing the relentless squeeze on essential SPA time, a position which the government today described as consultants trying “to reduce the proportion of their week spent treating patients.”
HDU consultant members in England did not support strike action in our consultative survey earlier in the year, but in light of recent developments I shall be asking our National Executive Committee to urgently revisit the matter. It is important that we are led by members in any steps we take – no decision shall be taken without consulting with you first.
In the meantime our message is clear: smears will do nothing to resolve the grievances felt by many consultants. They will only make things worse.