Junior doctors' strike puts hours issue back on negotiating table

Acas confirm talks will take place on 14 and 15 January

Junior doctors take part in a picket outside Kings College Hospital in London (Getty Images)

The Government is prepared to compromise on the vexed issue of out-of-hours pay for junior doctors as negotiations recommence on 14 January.

The conciliation service Acas said that talks between the Government, NHS employers and the British Medical Association will take place on 14 and 15 January, in the wake of Tuesday’s strike, which saw nearly two-thirds of junior doctors walk out.

Officials are hopeful that progress can be made on the two major areas of disagreement – pay for evenings and weekends, and protections for doctors working too many hours a week.

Negotiators for the Government have indicated a willingness to be flexible on hours defined as unsocial, but will likely expect concessions. The BMA has insisted any time outside 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday be considered unsocial, after the Government’s initial offer redefined Saturdays and weekday evenings as standard time.

There are also hopes the BMA will look again at an offer to swap financial penalties for hospitals that over-work junior doctors for a new system that will see them report instances of working over 72 hours in one week to a “guardian” appointed by the hospital.

The BMA’s junior doctor chair, Dr Johann Malawana, said he hoped the Government would “come to its senses”.