Junior doctors in England threaten to take industrial action over pay

Lok, Pat

doi:10.1136/bmj.o1458

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…There were low opinions of locum agencies, particularly in relation to cost and a general perception that locums were expensive. Although this study found that practices wanted to see greater control of locum pay caps and reduced incentives for locum work, it is important to note that broader discontent with GP pay and conditions 30 may have contributed to the current recruitment and retention challenges. 31 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Locum doctors in English general practices: evidence from a national survey

Stringer

Ferguson²,

Walshe³

et al. 2023

Br J Gen Pract

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Background: Locum doctors give practices flexibility to deliver patient services but there are concerns about the impact of locum working on continuity of care, patient safety, team function and cost. Aim: To explore locum working in English general practices and understand why and where locum doctors were needed and how they were engaged, supported, perceived and managed. Design and Setting: An online survey was sent to 3745 practices. Methods: Quantitative responses analysed using frequency tables, t-tests and correlations. Free-text responses were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: 605 responses were returned (16.2%). Practices made frequent use of locums, preferring regular locums familiar with processes and patients. Disadvantages of agency locums included cost, lack of patient familiarity and impact on continuity of care. Care provided by locums was generally viewed as the same but sometimes worse compared to permanent GPs. Some practices reported that locums did not always perform the full range of duties resulting in increased workload for other staff. Practices were largely unfamiliar with national guidance for organisations engaging locums and while processes like verifying documentation were conducted, far fewer respondents reported providing feedback, support for revalidation, or professional development. Conclusion: Locum working is an essential part of English general practice, but our research raises some concerns about the robustness of arrangements for locum working and impact on quality and safety of care. Further research is needed on the clinical practice and performance of locums, and to explore how locum working can be organised in ways that assure safe and high quality care.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Locum doctors in English general practices: evidence from a national survey

Stringer

Ferguson²,

Walshe³

et al. 2023

Br J Gen Pract

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show abstract

“…Runswick, elected deputy chair of BMA council in July,7 also proposed a motion at the junior doctors’ conference in June to ballot on industrial action in early 2023 over junior doctors’ pay 89…”

Section: Could This Lead To Strike Action?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Doctors’ pay award: what have different groups been offered, and is industrial action “inevitable”?

Waters¹,

Torjesen²

2022

BMJ

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“…Junior doctors in England are excluded from this year’s award and will receive a pay increase of only 2% under a multi-year pay deal agreed before the pandemic, Charlesworth notes, adding that the substantial real terms pay cut they face this year has implications for their motivation, morale, and retention 9…”

Section: How Will Doctors Be Affected?mentioning

confidence: 99%