Junior doctors across England have launched a four-day strike over pay, which is the longest since the wave of strike action began last year. The British Medical Association (BMA) claims junior doctors in England have seen a 26% real-terms pay cut since 2008/09 because pay rises have been below inflation. The union has asked for a full pay restoration that the government said would amount to a 35% pay rise, which ministers have said is unaffordable. The strike is set to cause unparalleled disruption to the NHS, with an estimated 350,000 appointments cancelled, including operations. NHS leaders have warned people to avoid “risky behaviour” during the strike. Managers have said patient care is on a knife edge, while NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor said the number of appointments cancelled, previously suggested to be 250,000, was likely to rise by another 100,000.
The Health Secretary Steve Barclay has maintained the government’s stance on the requested rise and said 35%, which “would amount to more than £20,000 for some junior doctors”, is “not fair or reasonable”. BMA officials said the pay issue is making it harder to recruit and retain junior doctors, with members previously walking out for three days in March. NHS England said staff will be asked to prioritise emergency and urgent care over some routine appointments and procedures to ensure safe care for those in life-threatening situations. The BMA has previously said it was willing to enter talks with Mr Barclay and suspend strikes if members were presented with a credible pay offer “to resolve 15 years of pay erosion”.
Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Health and Social Care Spokesperson Daisy Cooper MP said that by refusing to talk to junior doctors, Steve Barclay is putting our NHS and thousands of patients at unnecessary risk. The government needs to get round the table immediately to resolve this impending crisis facing our NHS. NHS staff deserve a fair deal, but this health secretary has slammed the door on urgent talks.
Mr Taylor, head of the NHS Confederation, called on both sides to end their “battle of rhetoric”. He said there is no question this strike will be more disruptive than the 72-hour walkouts by NHS staff last month, which led to 175,000 cancelled appointments. Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said the junior doctors’ strike this week will cause huge disruption to patient care. BMA junior doctor committee co-chairman Dr Vivek Trivedi said they have always maintained their aim is for full pay restoration – to reverse the more than 26% real-terms pay cuts the government has imposed on them over the past 15 years, putting starting salaries up by just £5 per hour to £19.
NHS England said appointments and operations will only be cancelled “where unavoidable” and patients will be offered alternative dates as soon as possible. The BMA said it would still be willing to suspend strike action this week if the Secretary of State makes a credible offer that can be the basis of negotiation.
