A terminally ill doctor has written an angry letter to Health Minister Jeremy Hunt in protest over his plans to change junior medics’ contracts.
Dr Kate Granger, who has been battling a rare, aggressive cancer for four years, warned the Conservative minister that he risks sparking an exodus of talent from the NHS.
Describing herself as an “extremely worried, angry doctor and patient”, the Wellhouse-born medic, said his plans will “crush” the health service.
Junior doctors are furious over new contracts which will reclassify their working week to include Saturdays and up to 10pm six nights of the week.
They fear it could reduce pay by up to 30%.
Dr Granger, who this year received an MBE for services to the NHS, wrote: “Please do not impose your ridiculously unfair contract on us.”
She urged him to “negotiate fairly” with her union and added: “We are not an unreasonable group of people. We are not even asking for a pay rise.
“Sadly I think we are probably only your first target; no doubt you will be coming for the nurses, midwifes, physiotherapists, dieticians, speech therapists and ward clerks next.”
The letter continues: “The NHS is a cornerstone of the United Kingdom. It should be an important institution to every United Kingdom citizen.
“Without it we are left with the situation we faced in America when I was first diagnosed, where our credit card and insurance documents were the only pathway to care.”
She adds: “I am proud to work for the NHS and would not want to receive cancer treatment anywhere else; somewhere anyone of any means at any time can turn up unwell and receive care.
“Please do not destroy that for future generations.”
Dr Granger, a consultant in elderly medicine at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield, has a tissue cancer which affects just one person in every two million.
Since her diagnosis in 2011, she has raised more than £110,000 for Yorkshire Cancer Centre in Leeds.
Dr Granger, who worked at Dewsbury District Hospital, sent a shorter version of her letter directly to Mr Hunt on Twitter but he has yet to reply.
The Department of Health said it would not comment on individual letters and failed to provide a promised response on the general subject of doctors’ contracts.
From November 5, union the British Medical Association will open a two-week ballot on possible industrial action.
BMA council chairman Dr Mark Porter said: “Doctors care for patients and understand their needs, and have been clear in their support for more seven-day hospital services.
“We have repeatedly called on the Government to outline how they will fund and staff them.”
