You can write your MP asking them sign EDM 539 here: https://www.writetothem.com/

Caroline is calling on MPs from across the political spectrum to support her in backing junior doctors in their campaign against Government changes to their contracts.

The new contract proposed by the Government could involve pay cuts of up to 30%, with "normal hours" extended to include 07:00 to 22:00 every day except Sunday.

Lucas has tabled an Early Day Motion [1] in Parliament today urging the Secretary of State for Health to ‘work to restore morale within the NHS, and to bring an evidence-based approach to renewed negotiations.’

She said:

“This latest assault on Junior Doctors' contracts is another savage attack on our already creaking NHS.

“Junior Doctors are the backbone of our health service – providing care seven days a week for those in need, but they’re being undermined by reckless policymaking by ministers.

“These changes aren’t in anyone’s best interests. They will cut pay for junior doctors and put patients at risk. Jeremy Hunt must urgently rethink these damaging and short-sighted plans.”

Following the UK Government's announcement on 15 September to impose a new contract on junior doctors in England, the British Medical Association has voted to ballot its junior members in England for industrial action.

Lucas is urging fellow MPs to join her in her effort to persuade Jeremy Hunt to think again. She’s also said she’ll support doctors if they choose to take industrial action.

She said:

“I’d urge MPs from all parties to sign this EDM and show Ministers that there is support for junior doctors from across the political spectrum.

“If junior doctors do decided to take industrial action I will fully support them in their fight for fair treatment.”

ENDS

Contact: Matthew Butcher on 07885 459 904

[1] http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2015-16/539

Full text of the EDM:

That this House recognises that junior doctors are dedicated professionals who are the backbone of the NHS, providing the best quality care for their patients; believes it is essential to ensure a contract that is safe for patients, junior doctors and the NHS; supports the view of the BMA's Junior Doctors Committee that the best outcome for junior doctors is a contract agreed through genuine and meaningful negotiations and therefore calls on the Secretary of State for Health to drop all preconditions; further believes it is essential that proper hours safeguards are introduced to protect patients and their doctors, together with proper recognition of unsocial hours as a premium time, and an agreement that work on Saturdays and late evenings cannot be considered the same as daytime on a weekday; believes there should be no disadvantage for those working unsocial hours compared to the current system, nor for those working less than full time and taking parental leave; is concerned that the NHS Trust's responsibility to monitor the number of hours worked has been withdrawn and urges its reintroduction; further recognises that junior doctors already work seven days a week for emergency work, and that the barriers to extend that to non-urgent elective work are the lack of complementary services, for example social care packages and pharmacists, not doctors' working patterns; and urges the Secretary of State to accurately reflect this reality in his statements, to work to restore morale within the NHS, and to bring an evidence-based approach to renewed negotiations.