BMA accuses NHS chiefs of misusing derogation deal to undermine strikes

Doctors' leaders have accused NHS chiefs of bowing to political pressure over striking junior doctors being called back to work.

- Andrew Gregory

The British Medical Association (BMA) said the process by which medics can be called back in "extreme circumstances" risked collapse because of misuse by health bosses.

NHS England hit back last night, defending local hospital chiefs and saying they were only making genuine requests to protect patients.

It said the BMA's attack was "regrettable" and accused the union of calling into question the "integrity" of local clinical leaders - some of whom it said may be BMA members.

Rishi Sunak also waded into the row yesterday, giving his backing to the requests. "It is right the NHS does absolutely everything it can to ensure patient care," he said. "These strikes are disrupting people's lives."

The clash came as a senior doctor yesterday warned that patients will experience "degrading" care and "significant harm" on the NHS for several weeks, amid a "perfect storm" of strike action, winter viruses and dangerously overcrowded hospitals.

The 144-hour stoppage - due to end at 7am on 9 January - is the ninth time junior doctors have walked out since last March and the longest strike to hit the health service since it was founded in 1948.