British Medical Association Response To Claims Of Strike Action Over Flu

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS
Article Date: 17 Jun 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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Responding to misleading suggestions in the media that the BMA has said some GPs could 'strike' over fears they will not be insured during a flu pandemic, Dr Laurence Buckman, Chairman of the BMA's GPs Committee, said:

"The BMA has issued joint guidance with the Royal College of General Practitioners to help GP practices plan how they will work during a flu pandemic. GPs are not considering and have never considered strike action over this issue and the BMA would not support such action. Media reports claiming this to be the case are wholly inaccurate. Indeed the evidence so far is that GPs in areas where there have been outbreaks have pulled out all the stops for their patients and I have complete faith that this will continue to be the case.

"A flu pandemic will put huge strain on the NHS and doctors will be working in exceptional circumstances, which is why the BMA has been working closely with the UK governments to plan for and ensure the smooth running of the service during a pandemic. The issue of death in service for locums is one of the few areas still to be ironed out, it affects a minority of GPs and we are working to resolve it quickly."

Source
British Medical Association