Emeritus Prof Christopher May<p><a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Doctors" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Doctors</span></a> have started a three-day walk-out today, in their ongoing dispute over pay.</p><p>Initial hopes that <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/VictoriaAtkins" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>VictoriaAtkins</span></a> might bring calm & sense where <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SteveBarclay" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SteveBarclay</span></a> has merely inflamed the dispute have now been dashed... so, we're back with a dispute that will certainly worsen (in the sort term) the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/NHScrisis" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NHScrisis</span></a>. </p><p>Biut as always, lets be clear; this is not 'junior' Doctors fault, they have been backed into a corner by a <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Tory" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Tory</span></a> govt. who have been defunding the NHS to engineer this very crisis!</p>
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#stevebarclay
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Emeritus Prof Christopher May<p>Hmmm... so only a couple of weeks after (Hartman) <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SteveBarclay" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SteveBarclay</span></a> was replaced as <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Health" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Health</span></a> Secretary, <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/VictoriaAtkins" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>VictoriaAtkins</span></a> has helped broker a deal that the BMA will put to <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/consultants" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>consultants</span></a>, to end their ongoing series of <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/strikes" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>strikes</span></a>. </p><p>It seems pretty clear that Barclay was the problem with reaching a resolution, which also reinforces the notion that the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/NHScrisis" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NHScrisis</span></a> has been engineered by the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Tories" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Tories</span></a>, and is now being ended as they see mileage in ending the deadlock.... game playing with people's health!</p>
Emeritus Prof Christopher May<p>OMG, after we find that the new <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/health" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>health</span></a> secretary, Victoria Atkins' husband works for British Sugar, now we find that <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SteveBarclay" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SteveBarclay</span></a>, incoming <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Environmental" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Environmental</span></a> Secretary is married to a senior executive at Anglian Water (currently under investigation, by OfWat for <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/sewage" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>sewage</span></a> dumping). </p><p>Hmm... what was that about <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/ToryCorruption" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>ToryCorruption</span></a>, again?</p>
Emeritus Prof Christopher May<p>Aha, <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SteveBarclay" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SteveBarclay</span></a> has departed from <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Health" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Health</span></a> to take up <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Environment" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Environment</span></a>.... will that free up a more sensible <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Tory" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Tory</span></a> (I know, not that likely) to take a more consensual approach to the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/NHSCrisis" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NHSCrisis</span></a> in all its dimensions?</p><p>Immediate update: its Victoria Atkins... who?</p><p>here's the wikipedia article for <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/NHS" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NHS</span></a> watchers to digest & read the runes from<br /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Atkins" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria</span><span class="invisible">_Atkins</span></a></p>
Emeritus Prof Christopher May<p>The BMA/Consultants have agreed to pause <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/strike" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>strike</span></a> action(s) while they talk to <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SteveBarclay" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SteveBarclay</span></a>, who has reassured <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Tory" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Tory</span></a> backwoodsmen that 'headline pay will not be on the table'.... but that word 'headline' will be doing a lot of work.</p><p>If Barclay is acting in good faith (but he *is* a <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Tory" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Tory</span></a>), then this might be the first step to de-escalate the aspect of the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/NHScrisis" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NHScrisis</span></a> related to the withdrawal of labour.</p><p>Much of this is initially going to be about what each side thinks the other is offering!</p>
Emeritus Prof Christopher May<p>you'll be unsurprised to know that while the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/BMA" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BMA</span></a> is willing to go to ACAS for mediated pay talks, <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SteveBarclay" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SteveBarclay</span></a> (through 'friends') as said there's an offer on the table, take it or leave it... </p><p>One can only conclude that the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Health" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Health</span></a> Secretary thinks by paying hard ball he can 'break' the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Doctors" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Doctors</span></a>... even if in the short-term he may be proved right, in the longer term, this intransigence will have a major impact on Doctors' morale & recruitment.</p><p>One more <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Tory" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Tory</span></a> wrecking the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/healthservice" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>healthservice</span></a>!!</p>
Emeritus Prof Christopher May<p>As <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/RishiSunak" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RishiSunak</span></a> prepares to reduce the winter fuel allowance for <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/pensioners" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>pensioners</span></a>, taking our cue from <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SteveBarclay" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SteveBarclay</span></a>, we should now all loudly accuse Rishi Sunak of withholding <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/heat" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>heat</span></a> from the elderly....</p>
Emeritus Prof Christopher May<p>The war of words around the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Doctors" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Doctors</span></a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/strike" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>strike</span></a> reaches a new low with <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SteveBarclay" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SteveBarclay</span></a> acusing striking consultants of withholding <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/cancer" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>cancer</span></a> treatments;</p><p>But, as Dr Vishal Sharma (BMA) observes: it was “incredibly rich of the secretary of state to invoke time-critical procedures when his government has overseen a steep increase in waiting lists that saw them reach record levels even before any strike action took place”.</p><p>Its the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Tories" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Tories</span></a> that have caused the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/NHScrisis" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NHScrisis</span></a> not the doctors!</p><p><a href="https://zirk.us/tags/supportourNHS" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>supportourNHS</span></a></p>
Emeritus Prof Christopher May<p><a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SteveBarclay" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SteveBarclay</span></a> condemned the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/doctors" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>doctors</span></a> strike as being 'coordinated & calculated'.... so unlike the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Tories" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Tories</span></a> policy making, then.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Govt. is looking to invoke the anti-strike law on minimum service levels to 'force' doctors & <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/nurses" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>nurses</span></a> to work... Well that's certainly going to to further inflame the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/NHScrisis" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NHScrisis</span></a>.</p><p>The right-to-strike is not only a <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/democratic" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>democratic</span></a> right, without it employment starts to look more like authoritarian control than a transaction between <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/workers" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>workers</span></a> & employers!</p>
Emeritus Prof Christopher May<p>As this weekend's <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/doctors" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>doctors</span></a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/strike" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>strike</span></a> enters is 2nd day, you will be unsurprised that the issue is essentially what counts as a 'credible offer' on pay & conditions; <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/RishiSunak" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RishiSunak</span></a> & <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SteveBarclay" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SteveBarclay</span></a> think what they have offered is 'credible', the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/BMA" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BMA</span></a> (and doctors) don't agree.</p><p>If I'm asked to choose between the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Tories" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Tories</span></a> & <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/healthcare" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>healthcare</span></a> professionals' view of what is 'credible' in the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/NHS" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NHS</span></a>, you'll forgive me if I dismiss the Tory position, based on their engineering of the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/NHS" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NHS</span></a> crisis in the first place!</p>
Emeritus Prof Christopher May<p>The <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/BMA" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BMA</span></a> is raising the stakes; now threatening that all doctors (from consultants & specialists to 'junior' doctors) will be taking <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/strike" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>strike</span></a> action before the next <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/election" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>election</span></a> if the Govt. do not meet their demands for pay to increased to make up for its historic real terms decline. </p><p>Given that <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SteveBarclay" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SteveBarclay</span></a> for now continues to want to play 'hardball' we are heading towards a long(er) period of disruption.</p><p>As always remember this all stems from <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Tories" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Tories</span></a> defunding of the NHS;</p><p><a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SupportTheStrikes" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SupportTheStrikes</span></a></p>
Emeritus Prof Christopher May<p>As we head towards a(nother) <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/JuniorDoctors" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>JuniorDoctors</span></a> <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/strike" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>strike</span></a>... once again its worth emphasising that this is a strike that has been directly caused by the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Tories" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Tories</span></a> defunding of the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/NHS" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NHS</span></a>, their callous attitude to the well-being of others & their strategy of driving (rich-enough) <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/patients" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>patients</span></a> into the arms of private <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/healthcare" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>healthcare</span></a>. </p><p>If <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/RishiSunak" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RishiSunak</span></a> or <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SteveBarclay" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SteveBarclay</span></a> actually wanted to reach a deal with the BMA/Junior Doctors they could, but they are choosing not to.</p><p><a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SupportTheStrikes" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SupportTheStrikes</span></a> <br /><a href="https://zirk.us/tags/supportourNHS" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>supportourNHS</span></a></p>
Emeritus Prof Christopher May<p>Hmmm... what's happened to the promised <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/NHS" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NHS</span></a> workforce plan? </p><p>Well it seems it has been delayed while <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/RishiSunak" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RishiSunak</span></a> & <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/JeremyHunt" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>JeremyHunt</span></a> 'go through the details', which is <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Tory" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Tory</span></a> speak for cut & trim the commitments to reduce the amount of money to be committed.</p><p>So, of course, <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Tory" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Tory</span></a> defunding of the NHS will continue, while <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SteveBarclay" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SteveBarclay</span></a> admits that past commitment(s) to 40 new hospitals, really includes refurbishments & extensions rather than 40 new <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/hospitals" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>hospitals</span></a>.</p><p>the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/NHS" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NHS</span></a> is not safe in <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Tory" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Tory</span></a> hands</p>
Emeritus Prof Christopher May<p>I see <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SteveBarclay" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SteveBarclay</span></a> who has done such a good job negotiating an end to the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/NHS" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NHS</span></a> strikes.... oh wait a minute.... is now 'negotiating' with the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/supermarkets" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>supermarkets</span></a> about a basic <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/food" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>food</span></a> price cap; guess what, the supermarkets are no happier with his approach than the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Nurses" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Nurses</span></a>.</p>
Emeritus Prof Christopher May<p>More gruesome evidence of the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Tory" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Tory</span></a> engineered <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/NHScrisis" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NHScrisis</span></a>: </p><p>The Royal College of Radiologists (& others) have written to <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SteveBarclay" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SteveBarclay</span></a> expressing “serious concerns about a critical lack of capacity within oncology departments... </p><p>[which results in] many 'having to make difficult decisions over whether to withhold access to approved treatments or prioritise which patients can receive treatment within a safe time at the expense of others!</p><p>If you've got cancer the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Tories" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Tories</span></a> are throwing a dice!</p>
Emeritus Prof Christopher May<p>The <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/NHScrisis" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NHScrisis</span></a> can be seen in the length of <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/waitinglists" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>waitinglists</span></a> for treatment;</p><p><a href="https://zirk.us/tags/NHS" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NHS</span></a> England reports last month that 7.3mn patients had yet to start treatment. Of those, 359,798 had waited more than a year & 10,737 had waited more than 18 months!</p><p><a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SteveBarclay" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SteveBarclay</span></a> will claim this is all about the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/strikes" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>strikes</span></a>, but as <br />the chief executive of NHS Providers notes ' this is 'due to years of under-investment right across the NHS, including mental health & community services'.</p><p><a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SaveOurNHS" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SaveOurNHS</span></a></p>
Emeritus Prof Christopher May<p>As the Govt. hoped the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/NHSStaffCouncil" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NHSStaffCouncil</span></a> voted (by a majority) to accept the pay offer on the table; but it remains unclear whether it will be fully funded, while the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/RCN" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RCN</span></a> & <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Unite" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Unite</span></a> will continue the strikes.</p><p><a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SteveBarclay" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SteveBarclay</span></a> will be hoping he can now impose the settlement on the resisting <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Nurses" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Nurses</span></a> & <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/NHS" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NHS</span></a> staff, and they will call it a day.</p><p>However, if as I suspect that Barclay will not be able to assure full funding, those who voted for the package may feel betrayed & will support further strikes?</p>
Emeritus Prof Christopher May<p>Very clearly <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SteveBarclay" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SteveBarclay</span></a> is hoping the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/NHSStaffCouncil" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NHSStaffCouncil</span></a> meeting tomorrow will vote in favour of the middling & (at least partly) unfunded pay deal on the table, leaving the RCN & Unite isolated in their continuing <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/strikes" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>strikes</span></a>... so lets hope the other <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/unions" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>unions</span></a> recognise this as the divide & rule tactic always used by bullying management and find some way to accord with their members' voting without leaving the RCN & Unite exposed.</p><p><a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SupportTheStrikes" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SupportTheStrikes</span></a> <br /><a href="https://zirk.us/tags/supportourNHS" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>supportourNHS</span></a></p>
Emeritus Prof Christopher May<p>How can <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SteveBarclay" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SteveBarclay</span></a> accuse the <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/RCN" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>RCN</span></a> of being 'disrespectful' to other <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/NHS" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>NHS</span></a> unions by continuing their strike action.... he, from a Govt. that has shown the NHS a distinct lack of respect for years - the gall of it!</p><p><a href="https://zirk.us/tags/supportourNHS" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>supportourNHS</span></a> <br /><a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SupportOurNurses" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SupportOurNurses</span></a> <br /><a href="https://zirk.us/tags/GTTO" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>GTTO</span></a></p>
Emeritus Prof Christopher May<p>Pat Cullen of the RCN on today's high court victory by <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SteveBarclay" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SteveBarclay</span></a> in declaring the next <a href="https://zirk.us/tags/Nurses" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Nurses</span></a> stoppage illegal on the basis that second day was beyond the period of the last strike ballot:</p><p>They may 'have won their legal battle . . . they have lost nursing & they’ve lost the public'!</p><p>Absolutely right! <br />But actually they never had me!</p><p><a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SupportTheStrikes" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SupportTheStrikes</span></a> <br /><a href="https://zirk.us/tags/SupportOurNurses" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>SupportOurNurses</span></a> <br /><a href="https://zirk.us/tags/supportourNHS" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>supportourNHS</span></a> <br /><a href="https://zirk.us/tags/GTTO" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>GTTO</span></a></p>
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