Foundation trusts 'could negotiate own contracts'

摘要

Foundation Trust (FT) hospitals will be able to negotiate their own contracts with junior doctors and will not have to implement the contract due to be imposed by the health secretary Jeremy Hunt on trainees from August, it has emerged. The Department of Health (DoH) has confirmed the 152 FT hospitals in England will not be obliged to force their junior doctors to accept the deal and could offer them better terms. The potential opt-out for FT hospitals could undermine the health secretary's controversial move to impose new terms and conditions on all 45,000 junior doctors, which has led to a long-running dispute.