HEALTH Secretary Steve Barclay has blamed doctors for putting patients at risk by refusing to agree to exempt critical services from strike action.
Mr Barclay told GB News: “It’s a consultation we’re announcing today. We’ve passed the primary legislation across six sectors, including health.
“And what we’re consulting on is the time critical services in hospital, things like chemotherapy, like dialysis, and what’s been happening in the strikes, if I take the August strikes, local health leaders agreed with local BMA representatives to have 17 exemptions.
“But then because of the militancy of the national BMA junior doctors committee, those 17 exemptions to give important treatment were not agreed.”
In a discussion during Breakfast with Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster, he continued: “What we’re consulting on is similar to what other countries have, such as France or Italy or Spain.
“Where people have the right to strike, we recognise that’s an important right, but we also protect time critical services in hospital like chemotherapy, like dialysis, so that those are still provided, notwithstanding the disruption perhaps to hip and knee operations, or to outpatient services.
“So that’s what we’re consulting on. It’s important we protect patients alongside recognising the right to strike.”
He added: “What we’re focused on protecting patients and protecting people’s ability to get chemotherapy, to protect them in terms of getting treatments like dialysis, I think is reasonable and proportionate.
“That’s what we’re focused on and what the BMA are demanding for junior doctors is a 35% pay rise.”
