Assembly Member Backs Junior Doctors Campaign

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 17th Aug 2009

A campaign to improve the working lives of junior doctors and medical students has received the backing of a local Assembly Member.

The Option 7 campaign launched by the BMA Cymru-Wales, the doctors' trade union, has become increasingly concerned about the working conditions of junior doctors and the impact that this could have on both careers and on patient safety.

The campaign is called Option 7 as this is the option junior doctors choose when calling the BMA Hotline to report on incidents of bullying and intimidation.

Michael German, former leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, is backing the campaign that is encouraging junior doctors to contact the BMA where they experience incidents of bullying within the NHS.

"There is increasing pressure on junior doctors to meet increasing waiting time initiatives, NHS targets and rota gaps. The pressure results in increasing demands on junior doctors and this does have an impact on patients", said Mr. German.

Dr. Andrew Dearden, MBA Welsh Council chairman, says: "We are hearing of some worrying cases concerning junior doctors, which seem to be more widespread than just "one-off" incidents. It has got to the point where it is starting to affect the reputation of training in Wales. It will also further adversely affect the recruitment and retention of junior doctors in Wales, which it is probably fair to say, is at a critical point now."

Mr. German added, "Any form of bullying cannot be tolerated, especially in our healthcare service. With junior doctors we are talking about the future of the NHS in Wales and they deserve our total support. The issue of working conditions for junior doctors is paramount as it affects the service that we, the patient, ultimately experience."