A doctors’ leader behind the worst strike in NHS history has written to the Cabinet Secretary about a “misleading” official tweet that had to be fact-checked by Twitter.
Professor Philip Banfield, chairman of the British Medical Association, demanded Simon Case launches a formal investigation to see if it broke the civil service code.
Prof Banfield claims a Department of Health and Social Care post on Thursday presented “misleading figures” on junior doctors pay and used “inflammatory language” to undermine them.
It stated the BMA is “demanding a 35 per cent pay rise”, which Prof Banfield alleges mirrors “language used by some politicians to misrepresent our call for pay restoration to 2008 levels”.
The original tweet has now been fact-checked by Twitter which adds context to the Government’s claim that some junior doctors earn on average £37,000 to £55,900.
The social media firm has added: “These figures do not represent basic pay. It includes additional earnings on top of basic earnings, including pay for additional hours and compulsory shift work.”
Prof Banfield added to Case: “Honesty, integrity, impartiality, and objectivity are the core values of the civil service, as set out by the Civil Service Code, yet this post seemingly undermines all four.
“I would be grateful if you could investigate this as a matter of urgency.”
In response to the misleading figures used in the tweet below from @DHSCgovuk 👇 BMA Council Chair @DrPhilBanfield has today written to the Cabinet Secretary to request a formal investigation to see if it has broken civil service code. https://t.co/OqNYTq5gdV pic.twitter.com/Mwz85B9NXW
— The BMA (@TheBMA) April 14, 2023
It has been estimated that some 350,000 appointments and operations have been rescheduled as a result of the action which has seen junior doctors on the picket lines outside UK hospitals.
Dr Robert Laurenson, the BMA’s junior doctors committee co-chairman, apologised after making headlines by taking a holiday abroad to attend a wedding.
The 28-year-old defended his absence from picket lines after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday said he was “surprised to read” Dr Laurenson was away.
A government spokesman said: “We have received the letter from the BMA and will respond in due course.”
