Take the time you need to build trust. That, any peace negotiator will tell you, is the way to find a solution. This week on political thinking, my guest, the Health Secretary for england, victoria atkins, suggests it could be the way to find peace in the nhs, to end the strikes that have dogged the Health Service for more than a year. Its been a big week for her, when talks are starting once again with theJunior Doctors and after a new report highlighted the horrorfor some mothers and soon to be mothers of nhs Maternity Services, something she has some rather powerful experience of. Victoria atkins, welcome to political thinking. Thank you so much, pleasure to be here. Youve said when talking about Womens Health, youve said when talking about this searing indictment that we saw this week of maternity and childbirth services, this is personalfor you. Why so . Well, im a mum as well as the Secretary Of State for health. And i had my baby on the nhs, and i have a long history with the nh
You can see, they are the really the backdrop of the stage, sitting listening two of these speeches. Chris makes the point is you can see that most of them are in conventional political gear. They have their smart clothes on, their suits and ties. Except that is for sir keir starmer, who has lost his tie and jacket and he has rolled up his sleeves nearly to his elbows. Chris our Political Editor says it is not hot in there. He says this is a deliberate look from sir keir focused he says on getting stuff done. We know there will be no new policies, it will be sir keir setting out six pledges as his pitch before what we know will be a general election probably this year. He is promising to deliver economic stability, that nhs waiting times, create a new Border Security, and, set up a publicly owned firm called Great British energy, crackdown on anti social behaviour, and also recruit 6500 new teachers. As you can see there are a large number of people in there, watching these speeches. T
Dispute with ten rounds of strikes by Junior Doctors. Adding together all the walk outs by Health Unions in england, more than 1. 4 million Hospital Appointments and operations you were cancelled. There have been few signs before now of any possible resolution of the dispute between the government and Junior Doctors. But the fact that both sides are prepared to sit down for talks with an independent mediator suggests a willingness to consider compromise. The doctors union, the bma, called for a 35 pay rise phased in over a few years. Ministers awarded an average ofjust under 9 for the last Financial Year and suggested anything higher would be unaffordable. The process will not involve the Conciliation Service acas and the outcome will not be binding on either side. But the bma, which still has a mandate to stage further walk outs, said an independent mediator could help break the logjam. The health secretary, victoria atkins, said she was pleased that mediation would take place and it