Another Referendum, Another Result

The UK is now entering the second week post-Brexit, and whilst it still dominates political news, another referendum result has just been announced. Recently I wrote an article about the junior doctor contracts which had recently undergone certain changes (you can read about that here). The proposed changes negotiated between the government and the BMA (British Medical Association) were put to a vote to the members of the association. Though the results were not expected until tomorrow, but they have been released early, and show doctors have voted to reject accepting the changes to the new contract. The referendum which saw a turnout of 68% (compared to the EU referendum turnout of 72%) resulted in 42% of doctors and medical students voting to accept the changes, whilst 58% rejected them.

In a statement released by the BMA they have said in the face of this clear response, by junior doctors, they will now be looking to return to the negotiating table with the government and with no transition to the new contract occuring until talks have taken place. This only throws up more uncertainty in a country which seems to literally be falling apart, and it is as yet unclear what position the government will take especially assuming 'Brexit' will probably take centre stage. 

Another casualty of this referendum chaos is the chair of the junior doctors committee at the BMA, Johann Malawana, who has now resigned. In a letter to all BMA members he said that “The result of the vote is clear, and the government must respect the informed decision junior doctors have made. Any new contract will affect a generation of doctors working for the NHS in England, so it is vital that it has the confidence of the profession ... these concerns need to be fully addressed before any new contract can come into effect and, in light of the result, I believe a new chair of the junior doctor committee will be better placed to lead on this work."

The BMA meanwhile has said the results from the referendum will be considered in detail by the junior doctor committee at its next meeting tomorrow, and they will appoint an interim chair who will then stand until formal elections in September.

Responding to the result, Jeremy Hunt, Health Secretary, said he was disappointed but failed to say whether the Department of Health would decided to press ahead with enforcing the contract, something they have done before. The verdict is also a blow to the BMA, who had been encouraging its junior doctors to agree to the new contract.

This result comes at an uncertain time. It is unclear how high up this is a priority for the government, especially considering that the current Prime Minister has resigned, and both main parties are embroiled in political turmoil. This is worsened by the fact that final year medical students who literally graduated this week are set to begin their jobs as junior doctors in August. It is as yet unclear what the Department of Health aims to do, and which contract the new junior doctors will sign. What is clear is that the UK is in for one hell of a ride.