BOA request for derogations to maintain safe and timely trauma care during periods of industrial action

The BOA is concerned that the proposed level of ‘Christmas Day cover only’ will be inadequate for NHS trauma services because the industrial action is planned for several consecutive days, when Christmas Day cover is usually only provided annually on a single day.

We have this week written to the BMA and NHS Employers to request that the necessary National Level derogations are put in place rapidly, to maintain a minimum level of safe and timely care for Trauma patients.

Individual derogations can be applied for and we would urge trusts to apply for derogations at a local level where they consider that the proposed level of service will not enable them to safely manage patients with emergency and urgent musculoskeletal (MSK) traumatic injury and disease.