Contributions
2,308 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNHS StrikesI do agree with my hon. Friend. If that demand were agreed to, it would mean some junior doctors receiving a pay rise of over £20,000. We need to find a balance, with a fair and…17 Apr 2023HANSARDNHS StrikesOn social care, which relates to the hon. Lady’s point about discharge, she will recall that in the autumn statement the Chancellor put additional funding into adult social…17 Apr 2023HANSARDNHS StrikesMy right hon. Friend makes an extremely important point. Patient safety should come first for all parties in this dispute. That is why I urge the Royal College of Nursing to wait…17 Apr 2023HANSARDNHS StrikesIt perhaps will not surprise the House to hear that the hon. Gentleman disagrees with his party’s leader on that, because the Leader of the Opposition says: “I don’t think 35% is…17 Apr 2023HANSARDNHS StrikesMy right hon. Friend is absolutely right to focus on patient safety and the duty that all involved have to safeguard it. Indeed, I have previously given the Royal College of…17 Apr 2023HANSARDNHS StrikesThe odd thing is that the hon. Lady seems to be disagreeing with the trade union leadership, which is not her usual position. Unison described it as a “decisive outcome” when 74%…17 Apr 2023HANSARDNHS StrikesThe hon. Gentleman makes two important points. The workforce plan is critical, and I have referred to that already. He also raises the importance of early diagnosis of cancer, and…17 Apr 2023HANSARDNHS StrikesAs ever, my right hon. Friend raises an extremely important point. As part of the negotiation with the AfC staff council, a number of non-pay issues were discussed. Job evaluation…17 Apr 2023HANSARDNHS StrikesAs I have said, we need to see meaningful movement from the BMA. The 35% demand that it has set out is not affordable, which is a point that is recognised by most colleagues…17 Apr 2023HANSARDNHS StrikesWe have agreed an offer with the Agenda for Change staff council. That is something that the staff council and the majority of trade unions have recommended to their own members,…17 Apr 2023HANSARDNHS StrikesI agree with my hon. Friend. The fact that even the Labour party does not support 35%—the Leader of the Opposition himself says that is not affordable —indicates how out of step…17 Apr 2023HANSARDNHS StrikesOne of the concerns at the moment is the BMA rate card, which is significantly increasing the cost of providing the required cover for the strikes, and in turn taking money away…17 Apr 2023HANSARDNHS StrikesI very much agree with my hon. Friend that this is a fair and reasonable settlement. As I say, it is more than £5,000 at band 5, and the NHS Staff Council has recommended it. The…17 Apr 2023HANSARDNHS StrikesIn part, that is why my door is open and I am keen to discuss with junior doctors the pressure they face not just on pay, but on non-pay issues. There is the issue of support for…17 Apr 2023HANSARDNHS StrikesI agree; it is extremely surprising that the BMA has asked its members not to liaise with NHS managers as they put in place those contingency plans. I urge the BMA junior doctors…17 Apr 2023HANSARDNHS StrikesThe shadow Secretary of State seems to ignore the fact that we have negotiated a deal with the NHS Staff Council, and it is a deal that it has recommended to its members. Indeed,…17 Apr 2023HANSARDNHS StrikesI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his question. On its first part, we will not have firm figures on the number of patient appointments postponed until later today, because…17 Apr 2023HANSARD Junior Doctors’ StrikesThe Opposition do not seem to like their question being answered. The shadow Secretary of State asked me to confirm the position, for the avoidance of doubt, at the Dispatch Box.…30 Mar 2023HANSARD Junior Doctors’ StrikesI would draw an important distinction between a militant group that appears to have taken over the junior doctors committee and the vast majority of junior doctors who do a hugely…30 Mar 2023HANSARD Junior Doctors’ StrikesThe urgent question was on the junior doctors —[Interruption.] I am sure I will quote —[Interruption.] There is a rare point of agreement between us. The hon. Gentleman is…30 Mar 2023