NHS Employers responds to resident doctor industrial action ballot announcement

Responding to the British Medical Association’s (BMA) announcement that resident doctors in England will be balloted on renewed industrial action over pay, Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, said:

“The government has taken welcome steps to accelerate pay review decision-making for annual pay awards and has acted more broadly to enhance employment and trade union rights across the economy. It is also developing a comprehensive plan for the NHS, its patients and people. At the same time, there are profound challenges for public sector finances and the economy.

“In this context, NHS organisations will be alarmed by the BMA’s preparations to ballot on the outcome of the DDRB process. Health leaders would urge all trade unions, including the BMA, to prioritise dialogue with the government rather than industrial action. Such dialogue would absolutely need to reflect the very real concerns of NHS workers, but also to understand, in particular, the longer term opportunities as we all work together to improve the health of the nation.”