An unhealthy alliance

The NHS junior doctors' strike on 12 January was a timely reminder of the productivity agenda having an impact on working practices. The unprecedented dispute between the Department of Health (DH) and the British Medical Association (BMA) concerns, among other things, pay progression, relaxing rules on rest, working a Saturday for the same pay as a weekday, and what constitutes a night duty (BMA, 2016). If the contractual demands are accepted then the likely effect would be the same pay for working a Sunday, and night duties being extended to nursing and throughout the NHS