NHS: Junior Doctors’ Contract

Baroness Tonge Excerpts
Wednesday 6th July 2016

(8 years, 4 months ago)

Lords Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Lord Prior of Brampton Portrait Lord Prior of Brampton
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

My Lords, the strong advice that we have is that the Secretary of State does have the power to introduce the new contract along with the NHS employers.

Baroness Tonge Portrait Baroness Tonge (Ind LD)
- Hansard - -

My Lords, the Government must realise how disillusioned junior hospital doctors are now. This has gone on for far too long. Is it not time that we had a new Secretary of State for Health, and that the present one should resign?

Lord Prior of Brampton Portrait Lord Prior of Brampton
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

No, I do not agree with that. Where I do agree with the noble Baroness is that this has gone on for far too long. We have been in discussion on this issue for nearly four years. It has got to come to a resolution, so the Secretary of State is absolutely right to introduce this new contract.