Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received from groups representing junior doctors on their current working conditions; and if he will make a statement.

Junior doctors play a vital role in our National Health Service and deserve a professional and fair contract that supports patient care. We also want to work with NHS staff to better support a seven day NHS. This is why the Government wants to reduce the number of hours worked by juniors and has guaranteed that average earnings will be maintained.

The best deal for junior doctors will be achieved by the British Medical Association (BMA) coming to the table to negotiate on their behalf. This is a view shared by the medical Royal Colleges, NHS Providers and others. To this end, the Government has provided the BMA and junior doctors with cast iron reassurances about its approach to a new contract and sincerely hopes that the BMA will return to the table.

Ministers receive regular representations from groups representing junior doctors.

My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State met Mark Porter, BMA Council Chair and Dr Johann Malawana as part of an introductory meeting following Dr Malawana’s election as Chair of the BMA Junior Doctors Committee (JDC). Ministers also meet regularly with representatives of medical Royal Colleges on a range of issues. At a recent meeting junior doctors working conditions were raised and the junior doctor training experience discussed.

Recent written representations on junior doctors working conditions have been received by Ministers from:

Dr Mark Porter, BMA Council chair and Dr Johann Malawana, BMA JDC chair.

Professor Maureen Baker, Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners Council.

Dr Clifford Mann, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, on behalf of ten royal college presidents.

Professor Sir Simon Wessely, President of the Royal college of Psychiatrists.

A related e-petition with created by M J Peluso has been published at the following link: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/108782