 has called on doctors to join a rally outside the conference in Manchester on October 3. Tory leaders have accused the union's decision to strike during the event as being 'politically motivated'. Dr Vishal Sharma, chairman of the British Medical Association's consultant committee, admitted doctors were targeting the conference 'because it's only the Government who can allow us to meet and end this dispute'. 'It is the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Health who are refusing. They will be at the Conservative party conference, and that's why we will be there too,' Dr Sharma told BBC's Today Programme. 'A credible offer' The unprecedented hospital doctors' strike will take place on Sept 20 and Oct 2, 3 and 4, leaving hospitals providing only 'Christmas Day' cover. Dr Vivek Trivedi, co-chairman of the BMA's junior doctor committee, told Sky News: 'We would be striking against whichever government was in power. We are currently in the position where the Conservatives are in power, so we're striking on their doorstep. 'Any government, the Conservatives or another, it's not them that's a roadblock to ending the dispute, it's a credible offer.' Junior doctors have demanded a 35 per cent pay rise and consultants, who are in the top two per cent of earners, claim their incomes have fallen by 35 per cent in real terms over 15 years. 'Patients are paying the price' Nickie Aiken, a deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, said: 'The latest announcement from the BMA makes it clear their strike plans are politically motivated and have nothing to do with patient care or helping to reduce waiting times. 'It is the patients they claim to serve){kind=link}
BMA has called on those striking to join a rally outside the event in Manchester on October 3
A consultant leading the doctors’ strikes has admitted they are “targeting the Government’s party conference”.
Consultants and junior doctors announced joint strike action for the first time on Thursday with a three-day walkout taking place at the same time as the Conservative Party conference.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has called on doctors to join a rally outside the conference in Manchester on October 3.
Tory leaders have accused the union’s decision to strike during the event as being “politically motivated”.