The 11th Junior Doctors Strike Over Salary Issue Begins

Junior doctors strike: Junior doctors in England have started a five-day strike, the eleventh strike in a long-running pay dispute.

Members of the British Medical Association (BMA) began walking out at 7am, with NHS England warning that normal hospital services would be significantly disrupted.

The union indicated that measures were taken because there was no actual new offer. The last strike took place in February.

However, NHS officials have criticized the timing of the current measure, which comes just a week before the general election.

Extra pressure

The NHS Confederation described the election season strike as a “bitter pill to swallow” as neither major party was able to resolve the conflict.

The government and BMA had agreed to independent arbitration in May, but it was suspended when elections were scheduled, prompting the union to call a strike.

A 35% wage increase has been requested to compensate for 15 years of wage increases that were lower than inflation.

Junior doctors saw an average wage increase of almost 9% in the past financial year.

Also read: Update on young doctors’ strike

Last year the BMA withdrew from negotiations on an additional 3% wage increase.

Junior doctors account for around half of the medical workforce in the NHS, and two-thirds of them are BMA members. That’s why NHS England is warning of significant disruption, noting that the healthcare system is already under extra pressure this week due to the warm weather.

Yellow heat warnings have been issued for many parts of the country, indicating the weather could put the most vulnerable people at risk.

It can lead to heat stroke and exhaustion, as well as worsening respiratory and heart conditions.

The current strike will see junior doctors leave all services, with senior doctors being called in to provide cover.

This is expected to cause the greatest disruption to elective hospital services, such as routine procedures.

NHS England has advised the public to use healthcare responsibly; However, people should still call 999 in an emergency and NHS 111 for urgent needs.

NHS England stated that people with routine appointments and treatments should attend unless otherwise instructed.

In addition, GP services and pharmacies are offered.

Appointments were cancelled

Medical director Stephen Powis said the latest strike would “hit the NHS very hard”.

Matthew Taylor, the chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents health officials, criticized the timing.

“While we fully understand the genuine grievances of young doctors about their pay, conditions and training, NHS leaders will still be frustrated that they will be heading to the picket lines again,” he told reporters.

“Holding strikes in the middle of an election campaign, when no political party is able to end the dispute, is a bitter pill to swallow for the staff who have to fill the gaps and for patients whose appointments are canceled or delayed. “

Strikes in England’s NHS have resulted in the cancellation of around 1.5 million appointments and operations, costing an estimated £3 billion.

Anita Wheeler, 75, a former nurse from Reading, is among those whose care has been postponed because of the conflict. She suffers from plantar fasciitis, which causes pain in her ankles and feet.

Her outpatient visit for trauma and orthopedics for her foot was canceled due to the physician assistant strike in March 2023. She adds that she sympathizes with those who find themselves in the same situation this time.

“I’ve been in this position before, so I know what it’s like. You build yourself up and think you’re going to get treatment, and then they turn around and say it’s off.”

“These delays are impacting people’s lives.”

“When I found out my appointment had been cancelled, I broke down and cried.

Pay offers

The BMA accused the government of “not once making a credible offer” during the debate. And the country was now prepared to phase in the 35 percent wage increase, rather than demanding it all at once.

But ministers have long argued that expectations are ridiculous.

All major parties, including the Conservatives, have said that if they form the next government, they would like to resolve the issue and meet for talks.

However, only the Green Party has agreed to the requests for a 35% salary increase.

In England, consultants, nurses and midwives as well as non-medical staff have all accepted salary increases in the past fourteen months.

Meanwhile, planned strike action in Britain has been postponed, while doctors in Wales vote on a revised offer and Northern Ireland conducts new negotiations.

Junior doctors in Scotland have not taken strike action since a pay deal was reached last summer.