Responding to the health secretary’s comments this morning Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite said:

“Steve Barclay just doesn’t get it. Junior doctors up and down the country have had a real terms pay cut of around 26 per cent since 2008/9. There are more than 110,000 vacancies in the NHS workforce right now – that’s one in 10 posts unfilled. But instead of dealing with those fundamental issues which are causing already trained NHS doctors to quit and move abroad to places where they have a chance of being properly paid and appreciated, Barclay is trying to take us on a trip to la la land.

 “Rather than looking at retention the Tories are now shaking a magic money tree to pay for an alleged expansion in training places for NHS staff – but Barclay can’t even say where the money is coming from for year one let alone year 15 of this plan. He’s just kicking the can down the road. Junior doctors have had enough.” 

Notes to editors

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications officer Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235 or 0203 371 2067.

Email: [email protected]

Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.