England’s longest doctors’ strike in the history of the NHS since World War II has begun. Junior doctors (i.e. below consultant level) began a six-day strike on Wednesday; In a major escalation of their long-standing dispute with the British government over wages.
The move comes at one of the busiest periods of the year for the state-funded body. It faces increasing pressure due to the spread of respiratory diseases in the winter. It also comes directly after a three-day strike by doctors before Christmas. The authority confirmed that the recent strike, in which up to half of health sector workers could participate, “will significantly affect almost all routine health care.” NHS Director Stephen Boyce said: “This January may be the beginning of the most difficult year the NHS has ever faced.”
The strike is scheduled to end next Tuesday at 7 a.m. GMT. The British Medical Association announced the strike in December after talks with the government collapsed.
The union reported that junior doctors were offered a 3 percent pay increase, in addition to the 8.8 percent increase they were given earlier this year. But she rejected the offer because the amount would be unfairly divided among doctors at different levels, and would represent “a pay cut for many doctors.”
It is noteworthy that junior doctors have carried out strikes at least seven times since March, in a move criticized by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and senior hospital officials.
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Retention issues in England
Outside the hospital, across the River Thames from the UK parliament, medics held up signs calling for better funding for the overstretched health service.
Others read “£15/hour is not a fair wage for a junior doctor” and “Reduced pay keeps the doctor away” with a map of Australia, which has previously advertised for UK-based staff to move.
Retention is not going to happen if we don’t pay our doctors properly,” said Shivani Ganesh, a 23-year-old medical student. “We are highly intelligent and highly skilled people, and other companies and other countries do value those skills and pay us appropriately,” he said. UK Health Secretary Victoria Atkins warned that the latest strikes would have a “serious impact” on patients across the country.
More than 1.2 million appointments have been rescheduled since the start of the strikes, including more than 88,000 last month, she added. The British Medical Association (BMA) announced the walkout in December after a breakdown in talks with the government.
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