British Medical Association ‘tells medical students to NOT volunteer on NHS wards to fight coronavirus until the Government draws up a national contract on pay, holiday and pension’

The British Medical Association has directed its medical students not to participate in volunteering in the NHS wards for fighting COVID-19  till the government has defined pay plans clearly. 

The union of doctors has told its students not to extend their help in the overwhelmed NHS till the finalization of a national contract regarding holiday, pays and pension. 

Critics have stated that the union comprising 160,000 members showed its reality, i.e. putting members’ interests over the lives of the patients. 

There is a flood of patients infected with coronavirus in the NHS hospitals already and the number is expected to rise in the upcoming weeks with the widespread outbreak. 

As per the statements of Matt Hancock, Health Secretary, around 19,000 student medics who are in their final year, are waiting to work on the frontline by next the week.

NHS England looks upto its students in their final years of nursing and medical studies to have an important contribution in supporting medical staff who are exhausted working day and night. 

Martin McNally from the NHS Trust of Oxford University Hospitals stated in a letter published today in The Times that, the response of BMA to the students was very disappointing.