Jeremy Hunt snubbed by trainee surgeons over 'inappropriate' invitation to discuss junior doctors' strike

Mr Hunt has denied allegations that he is seeking to put pressure on doctors through the meetings

Jeremy Hunt told the BMA that strike action ‘would harm vulnerable patients’ (Getty)

The professional body for trainee surgeons has snubbed Jeremy Hunt, declining an invitation to talks over the impending junior doctor strike and telling the Health Secretary to get back around the table with the doctors union.

Mr Hunt has been meeting the leaders of the medical Royal Colleges and other professional bodies this week, to hear views on the proposed strike action.

However, Rhinnon Harries, president of the Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT) has told the Health Secretary such a meeting would be “inappropriate” and urged the Department of Health to drop preconditions to negotiations with the British Medical Association – the doctors’ union.

Mr Hunt has faced allegations that he is seeking to put pressure on doctors through the meetings; claims the Department of Health has denied.

A statement from ASiT said its members “feel strongly that the imposition of the proposed new [junior doctor] contract in England poses exceptional risks to patient safety and the quality of training, recruitment and retention of the UK surgical workforce.”

The Government says it wants negotiations with the BMA to recommence. However, the union, which has balloted junior doctor members for strike action, says that the Government must withdraw its threat to impose a new contract, which they say would remove safeguards around working hours, before it returns to talks.