JEREMY HUNT picked a fight with junior doctors because he thought medics would “just roll over,” the British Medical Association (BMA) conference heard yesterday.

Members passed a motion calling for the resignation of Jeremy Hunt without debate, saying they had “no confidence” in the Health Secretary.

And BMA junior doctors committee chairman Dr Johann Malawana said Hunt had given junior doctors in England “no choice” but to take action over plans to offer non-emergency services across seven days with the same stretched staff.

Speaking in Belfast, Dr Malawana said: “The question people will ask when they look back on this dispute is why on Earth did this government pick a fight with junior doctors?

“It said it was about seven-day services, but it could not tell us what that meant, or how it would be staffed and funded.
“The government couldn’t fail to notice we worked seven days a week already.

“No, I think the government picked a fight because it thought it could win. It thought the medical profession would just roll over. We didn’t, we shouldn’t and I’m confident to say that in the future, we won’t.”

A new contract is being voted on by thousands of junior doctors across England, with results of the ballot due to be announced on July 6.

Dr Malawana urged members to accept the new contract, which includes some concessions, but others want to fight on to retain the current contract.

The conference also voted to commend the governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for “not seeking to impose a new contract and for maintaining good working relationships with junior doctors.”