| Junior doctors have reached a deal with the Government in their marathon dispute over changes to their pay and working conditions. The British Medical Association, which represents the medics, tonight announced it would ballot its members on the terms of an agreement following 10 days of intensive talks. According to the BMA elements of the new contract, if approved by the medics, will be implemented in August this year, after the breakthrough was brokered by conciliation service Acas. Among the agreements are fresh limits on working hours and pay for "all work done to support a seven-day service" rather than a banding system for unsocial hours. Pay rises based on the length of a doctor's employment will also be replaced by incremental rises based on attainment and responsibility. The row has seen several days of strike action by the doctors, including two during which they withdrew emergency care for the first time in NHS history. Chair of the BMA’s Junior Doctors Committee Johann Malawana said the agreement “delivers” on principles to a “safe and fair contract” that values medics and addresses recruitment issues. “[It] is a good deal for junior doctors and will ensure that they can continue to deliver high-quality care for patients,” he added. “This represents the best and final way of resolving the dispute and this is what I will be saying to junior doctors in the weeks leading up to the referendum on the new contract." Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt hailed the “significant agreement” which would allow the Government to pursue plans for a “fully functioning” seven-day NHS. "The talks have been constructive and positive and highlighted many areas outside the contract where further work is necessary to value the vital role of junior doctors and improve the training and support they are given,” he said. “This deal represents a definitive step forward for patients, for doctors, and for the NHS as a whole." The renewed talks were called after negotiations broke down in February – culminating in Mr Hunt vowing to impose the contract on the doctors. 'HUGE RELIEF' Shadow Health Secretary Heidi Alexander said the breakthrough was a "huge relief to anyone who cares about the NHS". “This dispute has gone on for far too long and caused unnecessary distress for both patients and doctors. "An imposed contract would have been the wrong solution – and would have risked permanent damage to the NHS - which is why so many medical voices urged the Government to back down and return to talks." She called on ministers to "repair the damage this dispute has done to staff morale". Acas chair Sir Brendan Barber said: "This long running dispute has clearly been an extraordinarily difficult period for the NHS. “So I am glad that as well as cooperating closely in preparing the communications for the upcoming referendum, all the parties are also strongly committed to tackling together the bigger, wider challenges facing the NHS.” |