Hospital trusts will adapt junior doctor contract if they have to.

Abstract

England’s health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has reiterated that hospital trusts will be expected to implement the new junior doctor contract for all new trainees from August and move existing junior doctors onto it as they change training posts—or else face losing funding for training posts. But some trusts have told The BMJ that they may be prepared to set their own terms and conditions if faced with unworkable rotas and morale at rock bottom among junior doctors. Responding to an urgent request by Labour’s shadow health secretary, Heidi Alexander, on what Hunt meant by “imposition” of the contract, the health secretary told the House of Commons on 18 April, “It has never been the government’s plan to insist on changes to existing contracts.” He explained, “It will start with those in foundation year 1 from this August and proceed with a phased implementation for other …