Junior doctors lose High Court battle to prevent new contract imposition

A High Court judicial review launched by junior doctors to prevent the imposition of a controversial new contract has ended in failure.

Mr Justice Green has ruled in favour of health secretary Jeremy Hunt in response to the legal bid, which had argued that the proposed contract was unsafe and unsustainable, while also calling into question the legality of Mr Hunt's actions in trying to impose it.

He sided with the government over charges that the contract lacked clarity and transparency and that the health secretary had acted irrationally in pursuing the measure, the stated aim of which is to help improve the quality of care provided at weekends.

It was noted that NHS trusts are technically free to decide whether or not to introduce the contract, rather than the government compelling them outright to do so.

Responding to the verdict, a spokesperson from the Department of Health said: "We urge the BMA to remove all threat of further industrial action so we can work constructively with junior doctors to address their wider concerns and better recognise their vital importance to the NHS."

To date, the dispute over this contract has led to six separate strikes by junior doctors, with further action planned over the next few months called off due to safety concerns. The contract is now set to be introduced next week.

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