Latest news with #WesStreeting
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Wes Streeting orders his officials to turn their focus to keeping patients safe during doctors strikes after peace talks with the British Medical Association broke down
Wes Streeting has ordered his officials to turn their focus to keeping patients safe during doctors strikes after union peace talks broke down. The health secretary has told the British Medical Association that 'all areas of engagement' with its leaders will now 'cease' so mandarins can 'prioritise minimising the impact of the strike action'. He said it is clear they have 'chosen a path of full dispute', showing 'scant regard for patients' and and accused them of failing to act in 'good faith'. Up to 50,000 resident doctors - formerly known as junior doctors - will walkout for five days from 7am on Friday in pursuit of a 29 per cent pay rise. They have already received above inflation pay rises for the past three years, worth an extra 28.9 per cent in total, following previous strikes. The BMA and Department of Health and Social Care held talks over the weekend with the aim of negotiating a settlement. But the BMA's resident doctors committee rejected the proposal on Tuesday and said it would plough ahead with industrial action. Mr Streeting responded to the leaders of the RDC today criticising them for turning their back on a deal in favour of a 'reckless and irresponsible' walkout. In a letter, seen by the Daily Mail, he wrote: 'The decision taken by your committee to commence strike action this week is reckless and irresponsible. 'Strike action should always be a last resort. 'Instead, it seems to be the BMA RDC's weapon of choice, with scant regard for patients or other NHS staff who will be left picking up the pieces of your actions.' He said he had been clear he could not offer higher pay rises but was willing to negotiate on other areas that would improve their finances and working conditions. 'There have been multiple discussions in which it is now clear that you have not engaged in the same good faith,' he added. 'Strike action costs the NHS in so many ways, and there are significant implications not only to patients but on the improvements that this government can deliver to the NHS for everyone. 'With strikes going ahead, I cannot in good conscience let patients, or other NHS staff pay the price for your decision. 'You have clearly chosen a path of full dispute, and this has consequences for the whole of the NHS system. 'I will therefore be asking my department to prioritise minimising the impact of the strike action and all areas of engagement with the BMA RDC will, by virtue of your decision, now cease.' Mr Streeting said he came into office with a 'genuine desire' to work with the resident doctors to improve their lives but they have 'squandered that opportunity and exhausted our good will'. He finished by urging them to reconsider their position and said resident doctors on the frontline would have a 'better path to a brighter future' if they had 'better leadership'. Membership groups representing NHS managers have warned the strikes will cause widespread disruption and put patients at risk of harm. Opinion polls show the public is opposed to the industrial action, which could see consultant members of the BMA cashing in by charging £6,000 to cover on-call rotas over the weekend. The union says the pay of resident doctors has been cut in real terms since 2008 and it wants to achieve full pay restoration.
Times
an hour ago
- Health
- Times
Why furious health bosses are braced for painful battle with BMA
I n the Department of Health and Social Care there is unabated fury. The collapse of a deal to avert doctors' strikes this week has led to a big shift in approach. While Wes Streeting, the health secretary, accuses the British Medical Association (BMA) of 'complete disdain for patients', many around him have concluded the body's leadership are in fact too weak to persuade their members to back a deal. They only way out, they increasingly believe, is effectively to break the union, something BMA leaders warn would be 'counterproductive', scuppering hopes of cutting waiting lists and driving doctors away from the NHS. The anger is so great because government officials working over the weekend thought they had a deal that would at least postpone the strikes. While Streeting has refused to reopen a pay settlement, he was ready to promise a range of improvements to resident doctors' working conditions that would leave them thousands of pounds better off.
The Independent
5 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Top medics ask union to row back hard stance on doctors' strikes, warning they risk patient safety
Top medics have urged doctors to soften their stance and tell hospitals if they are striking amid fears they will risk patient safety. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AMoRC), which represents medical colleges across the country, has urged the British Medical Association (BMA) to suspend its guidance for doctors, which suggests they should not inform their employers whether they plan to strike or not. In a rare intervention on Wednesday, the AMoRC said this would make it extremely difficult for health service leaders and managers to maintain safe patient care. Resident doctors are set to strike on Friday at 7am for five consecutive days after talks with the government broke down and failed to avert the action. The BMA is calling for a 29 per cent pay rise, claiming doctors have seen a 20 per cent pay erosion in their salaries since 2008. Wes Streeting, the health secretary, described the strike action as 'completely unjustified'. He added: 'It shows a complete disdain for patients and the wider recovery of the NHS.' The BMA said the health secretary's offer did not go far enough on pay. Royal Colleges' pleas come as The Independent understands that in at least one area of the country, Cheltenham, hospital chiefs have been considering reducing one full A&E service, following mandates that NHS trusts must not cancel routine care. This would likely result in similar measures to those taken during strikes in December 2023, when Cheltenham A&E changed to a minor injury unit during the day due to concerns over the ability to staff the full A&E. The trust is due to announce whether changes will go ahead on Thursday morning. Elsewhere, hospital leaders have said they will likely have to cancel some operations and appointments during the strikes, despite NHS England's official mandate to continue with routine care. Ahead of the strikes, the BMA has published guidance for striking doctors who are asked by trusts if they intend to take industrial action, stating that they are 'not legally required to respond to such questions' and that the BMA has advised them are not obliged to answer. Now the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has said it 'recognises the right of resident doctors to take industrial action, including by striking. However, following the disappointing news that talks with the Government seem to have broken down, the Academy is today calling on the BMA to suspend its guidance to doctors, which states they should not inform their employers whether they plan to strike or not. 'We know that legally those striking need not inform their employers, but by withholding this vital information, health service leaders and hospital managers have said it will be extremely difficult to maintain safe patient care when they have no idea how many doctors will be absent during the five days of strike action, which begin on Friday.' Other senior medics speaking with The Independent have said they do not support the planned strikes this week. One, who asked to remain anonymous, said: 'I think it's the wrong time. I think the sympathy's gone. So many people are frightened of speaking out, really frightened. They get abused. 'I think [resident doctors] are very angry. I think this is wrong for them to take it out like this – they need to think again. I think about what's good for the country, because what's good for the country is good for the NHS, and what's good for the NHS is good for them. Ahead of the strikes, the BMA and NHS England have clashed over plans for routine care to go ahead. NHS England chief Jim Mackey told NHS trusts they must not cancel routine operations. However, the BMA has warned that this will put patients at risk as consultants will not be able to manage both emergency and routine care demands. Several hospital leaders told The Independent they will likely have to cancel some routine care, with emergency care being the priority in terms of safety. One trust executive said cancelling operations where patients would have to prep was the 'humane thing to do'. They said: 'Even though we come under a lot of pressure [not to cancel] we've always taken the view that the humane thing to do... It's not responsible to put people through that kind of physical and emotional preparation.' During the previous round of strikes in June 2024, around 64,000 operations and patient appointments were cancelled.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Doctors' strike in England will go ahead after pay talks fail
London: A planned five-day junior doctors' strike in England will go ahead this week, their trade union announced on Tuesday, saying health minister Wes Streeting had not gone far enough in negotiations over pay and conditions. Junior doctors, also known as resident doctors, had voted to strike following the government's award of a 5.4% pay rise. The union argues this falls far short of the 29% needed to restore their earnings to 2008 levels. The strikes will begin at 0600 GMT on Friday. Talks with Streeting and government officials over the last few days to reach a compromise have not seen a breakthrough, the British Medical Association (BMA) said in a statement. "What we have seen so far is a series of 'no's - no to movement on pay, no to student loan forgiveness, no to any credible move forwards," BMA co-chairs Melissa Ryan and Ross Nieuwoudt said in a statement. "What we need to see are some ways forward, some kind of positive approach to get us out of this dispute." Streeting said the strikes would disrupt patient care and put additional pressure on the state-run National Health Service. "The BMA would have lost nothing by taking up the offer to postpone strike action to negotiate a package that would improve the working lives of resident doctors," Streeting said in an emailed statement.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
I'm seven months pregnant and scared of the birth. This is what every mother should ask
In 1928, my great-grandmother, Bertha, died from puerperal fever after giving birth. She was 32. Her baby, Audrey, also died. My grandmother, then two years old, was subsequently raised by her aunt. That same year, penicillin was discovered – and in the ensuing decades we entered a golden age of maternity care where the maternal mortality rate dropped significantly. When I was born in 1984 and my mother contracted a post-partum infection, the consequences were very different. Childbirth remains though, a complex and necessary fact of life. Women are not ignorant that it will be painful, that the unexpected will happen, that things might rip and tear. However, today they face significant other anxieties, about the very nature of the care they might receive. Maternity care services in the UK are facing significant staffing shortages, and as a result there are very real concerns about the safety and quality of care provided. Indeed, last year a study found the number of women in the UK who have died during pregnancy or soon after has risen to its highest levels for 20 years. Meanwhile, last year 41 per cent of all compensation pay outs by the NHS related to maternity care, equating to a staggering £1.15 billion. And now, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has announced a national inquiry into maternity care in England, saying there is 'too much passing the buck'. It is in this unfavourable climate that I find myself seven months pregnant. 'Fear of birth' is the label applied by the NHS for those women who are anxious about childbirth. Mine might be more reasonably called, 'Fear of bad maternity care'. Most women don't need to read about the horror in the news, they have friends and loved ones who've been snapped at by midwives, denied pain relief and been made to feel like a failure when they struggle to breast-feed. When GP Clara Doran gave birth to her son 11 years ago, she found herself in a hospital ward at 5am, crying, her baby dehydrated and losing weight, feeling like a total failure. She realised that even with all her medical training, she still needed support and hadn't been told what to actually expect. Dr Doran has written a memoir, Doctor, Interrupted, which is both a powerful and, at times, funny account of the gap between what the NHS says it offers new mums – and what they really get. Of NHS maternity care, she says: 'We do have to have trust that today's health care is guided by the right things. That healthy baby, healthy mum is the driving force. But there are unfortunately, like in any work place, other factors that can influence how that translates to your experience.' So how can pregnant women like me get the best from the NHS in this unfavourable climate? On the basis that forewarned is forearmed, here are the questions to ask your midwife ahead of giving birth. What signs should prompt me to go to the hospital urgently? Blood spotting, baby not moving, waters broken; whatever the issue, this can be a hard question for expectant mums to ask. Darcey Croft is a specialist midwife who helps women advocate for themselves and navigate the maternity system. In her experience, women feel embarrassed because the NHS is so busy. 'They don't want to make a nuisance of themselves, and they definitely should,' she says. 'I would give triage a call to the maternity unit and if you're not getting the right response, insist. Say, 'I'm still feeling very concerned, and I would like to be reviewed'. 'We know that women asking questions have safer outcomes. Even if someone is tutting at them. They will be seen.' Should I request a C-section? Requests are increasing for planned caesareans. According to Croft: 'It is a sad reflection of the confidence women have in maternity systems at the moment.' Every women has the right to ask for a planned caesarean. The reason can be medical or psychological. I knew I wanted to request a caesarean almost immediately, for a variety of reasons. One is that big babies run in my family. I was 10lb 12oz at birth, my poor mother gave birth vaginally. The main reason though is my age. Women aged over 40 are significantly more likely to have an emergency C-section compared to younger mothers. A study showed a 22.4 per cent emergency caesarean rate for women over 40, compared to 6.7 per cent for those aged 20-24. Dr Lucy Lord MBE is an obstetrician and founder of private clinic, Central Health London. She says: 'You can be lucky and labour like a 25 year old, but the chances of that are one in 10. You can be moderately lucky and labour like a 35 year old, but still over half of births in this age group end in a C-section.' She adds: 'If you're under 25, and so is your BMI, and you've got a normally growing baby and no other complications, you can be pretty sure no matter how c--p the labour ward is, you'll be OK.' The subject can be an emotive issue, with a perception that a vaginal birth is more natural. In Dr Lord's opinion good obstetric care is about risk stratification. 'I say to women, don't think with your heart, think with your head.' Not all NHS hospitals are equipped to perform immediate emergency C-sections. So if you're high risk it's worth checking, so you can move to another hospital if necessary. Am I a good candidate for a home birth or would the hospital be safer? One in 50 births each year in England and Wales take place at home. There has been a small increase in recent years and Dr Doran wonders if this is part of a trend towards expecting mothers trying to avoid any intervention. If you are categorised as a low risk, home births are very safe, says Croft: 'The midwifery team and doctors should be assessing to say whether you are perfect for a home birth.' The advantage is that they are less timed than hospital births, where a cascade of interventions can ensue. During a home birth midwives can usually tell which way things are heading before there is ever an emergency, adds Croft. 'Occasionally things can escalate quickly and you would need to get an ambulance.' How will you make sure I'm informed and involved in decision-making during labour? Gathering as much knowledge before labour is imperative. 'I always maintain that women can go through any birth, and come out feeling positive, as long as they feel they are involved in their own care, making the decisions and that they felt listened to,' says Croft. Trauma happens when a woman doesn't feel safe and listened to. Don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion. 'Every shift will have a coordinator, who doesn't want poor feedback. If you're not getting the answer you want, ask to speak to the coordinator.' Ask how birth partners and advocates are included in labour. 'Women often make better decision when they're supported and feel emotionally safe,' says Croft. Will my birth plan be followed? While it's a good idea to have a birth plan stating your preferences, that doesn't mean your midwife is obliged to follow it. Or indeed will be able to. From medical complications, down to all the birthing pools being full, it's best to plan for the unexpected. Croft advises her clients against writing 'epic novels': 'I always guide women towards condensing it down to bullet points, including what's non-negotiable. That will get read.' However, it is important that you and your birthing partner have talked through all scenarios and you feel comfortable that they're going to emphasise your preferences. When speaking up, Dr Doran advises leading with your vulnerability. 'Such as: the pain you are experiencing. Then it is harder for it to be ignored,' she says. Will a consultant or senior doctor be available if complications arise during labour or before? Yes. Every unit will have a consultant present or on call, even in the middle of the night. 'If it's a birth centre and a midwifery-led unit, there might not be any doctors there,' explains Croft. 'That woman will be transferred into the consultant-led unit.' What if I change my mind about pain relief? Dr Doran says: 'Pain relief will always be available as long as it is safe and appropriate for you and baby at your stage of labour. No one knows how they will cope with labour pain until they experience it so go with the flow and listen to your body. No one is keeping score.' What are the signs of sepsis or infection I should watch for after birth? Early signs include fever and flu-like symptoms. 'As soon as someone starts to feel unwell they should speak up,' says Croft. 'If they feel dismissed, just reiterate, 'No, I feel very unwell.' Ask for a blood test for sepsis. It's fine to ask.' Escalation is important. 'Mums and dads can always ask for that second opinion. And if they don't feel listened to, ask for another one.' What should I expect on a postnatal ward? You're exhausted, you want to sleep and spend time with your new baby. And yet you are on a post-natal ward with five other women with a curtain around them. Home is the right place for a new mum. 'As soon as you're fit for discharge, get home,' says Croft. After a caesarean, try to mobilise as quickly as you can: 'Four to six hours after the operation try to move. You'll still have some of the pain relief onboard. If you lie there for 12 hours and then try to move, it will be a lot harder.' Whether you gave birth by caesarean or vaginally, one night's stay in hospital as a minimum is standard, in order to access breast-feeding support. 'Six hours is on offer but normally you'd have to request an early discharge.' Again, make a nuisance of yourself. 'Use your call bell. The women who are using it and asking for help go home feeling supported. There is an element where mums have to take responsibility or dads have to help advocate for support.' Who should I turn to if I feel anxious or depressed after the birth? It's not uncommon to feel depressed or anxious after giving birth. If you're blue it's important to seek help from your GP, midwife or health visitor. As Dr Doran says: 'We talk a lot about 'getting back to normal' or feel we should be able to master everything we did in our pre-baby life when we become parents. However other cultures see this differently and encourage new mums to stay in bed or at home for as long as possible in the days after birth to rest and adjust physically and mentally to what has happened.' At the core of the anxiety women can feel is feeding. Dr Doran speaks from experience: 'Having watched videos in antenatal class of the perfect attachment and breastfeeding experience occurring seamlessly, when it came to my turn, wondering why my baby wasn't doing this in the same way and being convinced it was my fault.' Take the help and support, but also nourishment of your baby is the most important thing. If this needs to be with formula or mixed feeding, that is absolutely fine and the right decision for you and your baby. 'Don't let anyone guilt you or make you feel less of a mum because of it,' she says. 'These days and weeks are the most exciting and special time, but they can be extremely hard too and fraught with tiredness, fear and self doubt. Take it easy on yourself, what is right for you is right for your baby and remember this is just the beginning of your lives together.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
