Whenever a story sticks in the media for a long time, you do tend to get fed up with it. Tube drivers striking, phone hacking, doctors striking. Yes, it is true, however much you may agree with a certain subject that is in conflict you do eventually get fed up of reading about it and shout "for goodness sake get it fixed" at the screen/newspaper.
Now don't get me wrong, in the current argument between the government and the NHS/BMA, who are you going to believe? The government haven't done a good job with this dispute but equally it takes two to tango....or in this case two to badly fall out of step with each other. There is of course the 'joe public' or patient view as well and whilst that shouldn't be forgotten, I would happily accuse the government of forgetting this viewpoint and getting lost in the politics, but I've no doubt doctors have patient concerns at their very core. Why else would they do the job. But more strikes is not the answer.
The problem is that because the junior doctors have had such a struggle getting a fair and safe contract, the rest of the NHS is bound to be looking on wondering whether they will be next. So I'm tending to see this as a 'whole NHS' problem rather than just a junior doctor problem....not to belittle the problem that exists, but it has exposed just how much the whole system is struggling, seemingly due to underfunding, a lack of joined up working and a lack of solid leadership.
So what do I want to see? Well, we've had the strikes - I want to see doctors (junior doctors, consultants etc.) being able to put all their efforts into patient care and making the NHS a better and safer place, I want to see an end to them having to put so much effort into fighting the system. It must be bloody exhausting. Seriously would you dedicate chunks of your time to sit outside the department of health 24 hours a day to make a point? In your own time, on your day off, would you??? If that doesn't show commitment to a cause I don't know what does.
I want to see, clearly laid out, exactly where the differences lie between the two sides. Whereabouts with this new contract the two sides agree (there must be some points of agreement, mustn't there?), what the government cannot agree to, what the BMA can't agree to. Are we talking about 1 point, or 100 points.
I want to see the two sides talking. Whether this is face to face or whether it is via ACAS again, either way I want to see progress. The two sides cannot just remain entrenched in their views, or else no progress will be made and I (as a member of the public) will forget why this dispute even began. Yes I know the answer from junior doctors will be "because the new contract is unfair and unsafe", yes I know that and I don't doubt it. But whilst I still support you in your fight, in order for me to get back into this I need a reminder, a pointer to help me understand exactly how far apart you are.
So once the list of agreement and disagreement is drawn up, and if both sides still feel they can't move forward - then it might be time to choose some different people to do the negotiating, a fresh view. The best people to understand what needs to be done are of course the people that work in the NHS, the doctors. But you can be too close to a problem as well to not always be able to see the way forward clearly.
Finally, the trial of the new contract that has been suggested. You could go on arguing for the next 6 months, or you could quickly set up a trial. Why on earth wouldn't you do this? If both sides are so sure they are right, this is the ideal way to test the ground. Then once the trial is underway, you have some real evidence, some hard data, to back up your argument ("your argument", which ever side that ends up being). Good, hard, data - who doesn't love that? Just trial it, don't argue any more, make some real progress.
So what is my summary here?
- I support the junior doctors in their fight. I love and value the NHS.
- I don't want to keep seeing the rage and fury in the news and the constant disagreements
- I want to see progress!
Is that too much to ask?
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