A drinks and canapés evening featuring Jeremy Hunt has been cancelled after reports junior doctors might attend and ask him questions about their new contract.
The Health Secretary had been due to mingle with Tory activists on Friday night over nibbles and wine at a party fundraiser, until the event’s open invitation began to circulate on social media.
Some junior doctors and their supporters, who say Mr Hunt has refused to speak to them directly, said it would be worthwhile buying tickets to the evening and engaging him in debate about his new policy.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-hunt-drinks-canapes-fareham-conservatives-junior-doctors-tories-cancelled-a6869151.html
It says something when even the Daily Mail is attacking him.
Junior doctors are threatening a mass exodus to Australia after Jeremy Hunt forced through his controversial new contract yesterday.
There has been a huge surge in the numbers seeking certificates to practise abroad and some have already lined up jobs.
Almost 760 doctors were issued with documents by the General Medical Council in the first four weeks of this year – nearly 200 a week and almost double the usual number. Although they include some older GPs and consultants, the vast majority were disillusioned younger doctors.
Each junior doctor costs the NHS at least £350,000 to train over eight years, including university costs and hospital placements.
If only half of the doctors issued certificates last year moved abroad, it would amount to a loss to taxpayers of £1.5billion.
Yesterday Health Secretary Mr Hunt announced he would be imposing the contract because further negotiations with the doctors’ union were not ‘realistically possible’.
His decision followed a 24-hour strike by junior doctors on Wednesday – the second in a month. The walkouts have led to a total of 7,000 cancelled operations.
Last night up to 300 junior doctors and other campaigners protested outside the Department of Health in Whitehall, calling on Mr Hunt to resign.
They chanted ‘Where are you Jeremy?’, ‘Jeremy Hunt has got to go’ and ‘We won’t give up the fight’.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3443298/Flight-striking-junior-doctors-Hunt-imposes-new-contracts-200-week-applying-easier-life-abroad.html
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