Junior doctors: High Court rules in favour of Jeremy Hunt following legal battle over seven-day contract

Junior doctors: A group of medics have lost their court battle over the legality of imposing the new contracts
PA
Chloe Chaplain28 September 2016

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has won a High Court battle with junior doctors over the imposition of a controversial new contract.

Junior doctors had complained that Mr Hunt wrongly imposed the contract on NHS employers but Mr Hunt said their complaint was without substance.

High Court judge Mr Justice Green today ruled in favour of Mr Hunt after analysing evidence in a hearing last week.

Justice for Health, a group founded by five doctors, said Mr Hunt acted beyond the scope of his powers by compelling NHS employers to adopt the new deal.

High court: Mr Hunt said the legal challenge was 'without substance' 
Neil Hall/PA

Dr Nadia Masood, Dr Ben White, Dr Fran Silman, Dr Amar Mashru and Dr Marie-Estella McVeigh said Mr Hunt's decision to impose the contract lacked a sound or rational foundation and should be quashed.

But Mr Hunt argued he had approved a new contract but has not imposed it on employers or compelled them to adopt it.

The litigation follows nationwide opposition to Mr Hunt's plans for seven-day NHS services in England.

All out: striking junior doctors on the picket line outside St Thomas’ Hospital
Lucy Young

Junior doctors began a series of strikes, the longest of which lasted two days, in January.

Doctors' union the British Medical Association has suspended industrial action by junior doctors planned for October, November and December.

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