Doctors at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre have suspended their strike, citing a critical lack of planning that poses risks to patient safety. The decision, made on November 14, 2023, comes after the British Medical Association (BMA) revealed it was compelled to accept a derogation for seven resident doctors. This exemption allowed them to work during an ongoing five-day national walkout, intended to address issues related to pay, inadequate training, and limited job opportunities.
The BMA emphasized that the safety of patients during strikes is paramount. In a statement released on the evening of November 14, the union expressed concerns over the planning efforts of the Queen’s Medical Centre: “Due to the dangerous lack of planning and action taken by the QMC in Nottingham, we are forced to accept a derogation for seven resident doctors tonight for the Emergency Department for the shifts until midnight.”
In response to the BMA’s claims, the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) defended its preparation for the strike. Dr. Manjeet Shehmar, the trust’s medical director, stated, “As a trust, we have planned extensively for industrial action and the impact on all our services, including our Emergency Department.” He acknowledged that due to significant pressures, seeking a patient safety derogation became necessary.
Dr. Shehmar continued, “Thank you to our staff whose ongoing professionalism and support have enabled us to keep services running. Our priority is always to provide safe care, and we will continue to do our utmost to minimise disruption for patients.”
In addition to the Emergency Department, resident doctors were also exempted from the strike at the labour ward of Queen’s Medical Centre and City Hospital for shifts on November 14, 15, and 16. The derogation specifically targeted resident obstetric doctors who are on-call to address urgent and emergency services, according to the BMA.
The BMA explained that the derogation was necessary because it had become “impossible” to arrange sufficient cover to maintain safe conditions across the wards throughout the strike. Dr. Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, criticized NUH’s preparedness for the strike. He remarked, “This is the latest example of NUH failing to prepare properly for lawful industrial action and abusing this critical patient safety process.”
Dr. Fletcher pointed out that the derogation process is intended for unforeseen emergencies and mass casualty events. He noted, “Failing to plan is not in itself an emergency, but NUH is persistently putting patients at risk by doing so.”
As the situation unfolds, the emphasis remains on ensuring patient safety while navigating the complexities of industrial action. The BMA continues to advocate for improvements in working conditions and sufficient resources for healthcare professionals, aiming to prevent further disruptions in care delivery.
