Junior doctors on strike at Weston General Hospital were allowed to leave the picket line after concerns that short-staffing would "risk patient safety". The British Medical Association (BMA) has since revoked the 'derogation', however, after the hospital secured sufficient cover.
The BMA reported yesterday evening (Tuesday) that it had agreed for seven junior doctors to return to work there, claiming "poor planning by local management" had left the hospital "exposed". Under strike contingency plans, hospital leaders can request for doctors to return to work for a limited time in certain circumstances “to maintain safe patient care”, under a process called derogation.
In an update this afternoon, the union confirmed it had revoked the derogation granted to Weston General. It added that it felt it had been "misled over the level of staffing cover", or else "local management were unaware they had sufficient senior cover".
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It added: "We granted a derogation in good faith and it is incredibly disappointing to see this abused in this way. We are grateful to our consultant and SAS (speciality) colleagues for their hard work providing cover during the strikes."
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Weston General, has responded to the BMA's criticism. In a statement, the trust's chief executive Professor Eugine Yafele said: “The safety of patients is our top priority.
"When applying for the derogation we provided information requested by the BMA that accurately reflected our concerns about risk to patient safety, during what is a fast-moving situation. These concerns were supported by consultants providing cover.
“As part of our established operational planning for periods of industrial action we’ve been exploring all avenues for ensuring sufficient cover for key services over the course of the week, as well as each day responding to unplanned absences.
“In doing so, we are very grateful to colleagues who have stepped in to provide medical cover, which has made the difference in ensuring that we have sufficient staffing without ultimately having had to draw on the derogations."
The BMA's initial tweet yesterday read: "As part of the junior doctors strike action, we have agreed to a derogation today (Tues 11 April) and tomorrow (Weds 12 April) to cover the Emergency Department and acute medicine at Weston General Hospital.
"Protecting patient safety during strikes has always been a priority to the BMA. However, poor planning by local management has left the Emergency Department and acute medicine at Weston General Hospital exposed."
Today (Wednesday) marked the second day of walk-outs that around 50,000 junior doctors in England are taking part in until Saturday, demanding pay rises in line with inflation. The British Medical Association says junior doctors starting work in hospitals earn £14.09 per hour in their basic pay packet – which does not include additional payments for weekend or overnight pay.
The union claims junior doctors in England have seen a 26 per cent real-terms pay cut since 2008/09 because pay rises have been below inflation. It is asking for a full pay restoration that the Government has said would amount to a 35 per cent pay rise – which ministers have said is unaffordable.
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