Junior doctors in Yorkshire voice fears over contract dispute as strike threat looms

Dr Andrew Koo, 29, from Moortown, Leeds, is a newlywed pursuing a career in radiology and planning a family but as the conflict between Government and doctors’ union the British Medical Association (BMA) rumbles on his future is on hold.

The West Yorkshire junior doctor is not alone in considering upping roots and leaving the country over Government plans to impose a controversial contract on young doctors.

Many Yorkshire juniors fear they could make mistakes on the job through exhaustion, some are considering a change of career and many more are prepared to down tools in what would be an unprecedented strike.

More than 780 junior doctors intend to protest against the Government in Leeds city centre on October 28 – the day two NHS Employers events over the issue were due to take place before they were cancelled amid the dispute.

Following a breakdown in talks between the Government and the BMA, junior doctors are expected to be balloted for industrial action over the coming weeks.

Dr Koo said: “Given what’s going on with the contracts, we [me and my wife] are considering moving countries if we need to. We would be very sad to leave an institution we all respect and love so much. Doctors in a similar position without children or a relationship are thinking of jumping ship. If someone else can provide excellent patient care and as a bonus be paid fairly and appropriately it would be silly not to.”

The changes, which are proposed to come into effect in August 2016, could scrap safeguards to prevent excessive working and extend what are deemed normal working hours to 7am to 10pm Monday to Saturday. At present any work done outside 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday is paid at a higher rate. The changes could affect more than 6,000 junior doctor posts in Yorkshire.

Bramhope resident Dr Phil Atkinson, 32, described the move as “an assault on the future of the NHS” that would attract fewer students into medicine. He said: “I don’t want tired doctors treating my family or them receiving substandard care because doctors are exhausted.”

Dr Omar Jundi, who works in intensive care, said the financial “sacrifice” may prove too much. He said: “All this talent and training in Leeds is going to be wasted and moved to other countries.”

The Government first tried to amend junior doctor contracts in 2012 but talks broke down last year. The BMA has since refused to re-enter negotiations.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt met the BMA’s junior doctor committee chair Dr Johann Malawana over the issue last week but the situation remains the same.

Dr Kieran Zucker, who is on the BMA’s junior doctor committee, said: “There has been a huge reluctance around industrial action but the more you look at it you can see if these changes are put in place it will create a detrimental effect on the care people receive for a generation.”

Following the meeting with Mr Hunt, Dr Malawana added: “Until the Government is willing to give the BMA the concrete assurances we require we will continue with the action junior doctors are demanding.”

A Department of Health spokeswoman said that the proposed changes “link pay to responsibility” and are needed to create what it hopes will be “a truly seven day NHS”.

Dr James Chan, oncology, said: “You might potentially miss something and that’s really scary and that’s what drives my fear right now. I’m actually helpless but the children that have no decision over their health care or their safety - those changes are affecting them.”

Dr Omar Jundi, anaesthetics and intensive care, said: “All these talented doctors that come from far and wide because of the excellence in Leeds are going to be looking elsewhere. All this talent and training in Leeds is going to be wasted and moved to other countries.”

Dr Nicola Hughes, Oncology, said: “We have a rota that’s so understaffed that we are covering extra locums and we are already doing that on top of our own jobs so that everyone gets oncology specialist attention. We are already working more than we should be and it’s only getting worse.”

Dr Phil Atkinson, anaesthetics, said: “I would no longer recommend doing this job. I’m not sure where it will be in eight years.”