Key Takeaways
- The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced a fresh round of strikes in England, with resident doctors staging a five-day walkout from December 17.
- This will be the 14th strike by the doctors’ union since March 2023 and is expected to cause significant disruption, particularly in hospitals.
- The strike is part of a long-running pay dispute between the BMA and the government, with the union arguing that resident doctors’ pay is still a fifth lower than it was in 2008, once inflation is taken into account.
- The government has offered doctors a deal involving creating more training posts, improving working conditions, and helping with out-of-pocket expenses, but the BMA is seeking a pay increase.
- The BMA’s mandate for strike action ends in early January, but the union has announced it will be holding another ballot of members.
Introduction to the Strike
The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced a fresh round of strikes in England, with resident doctors staging a five-day walkout from December 17. This will be the 14th strike by the doctors’ union since March 2023 and is expected to cause significant disruption, particularly in hospitals. The strike is part of a long-running pay dispute between the BMA and the government, with the union arguing that resident doctors’ pay is still a fifth lower than it was in 2008, once inflation is taken into account.
Reaction from NHS Bosses
NHS bosses have criticized the strike, with Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospitals, saying it was an "inflammatory act" by the BMA. Elkeles argued that the lead-up to Christmas was always challenging and that the strike would be "totally unfair to patients and to other staff working for the NHS." He called on both sides to get back around the table to break the logjam. The walkout follows a five-day strike held last month, which came after talks broke down between the government and the union.
The Government’s Offer
The government had offered doctors a deal which involved creating more training posts, improving working conditions, and helping them with out-of-pocket expenses such as exam fees. However, the BMA turned that down, saying any deal needed to involve an increase in pay. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has maintained that he would not negotiate on pay after resident doctors had received pay rises totaling nearly 30% in the past three years. However, the union argues that, despite the pay rises, resident doctors’ pay is still a fifth lower than it was in 2008, once inflation is taken into account.
The Union’s Perspective
Dr. Jack Fletcher, chairman of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, said that as the government had failed to come forward with a credible plan, the union had been left with no choice but to strike. However, he added that the strikes did not need to go ahead and that gradually raising pay over a few years and some common-sense fixes to the job security of doctors were well within the reach of the government. The BMA’s mandate for strike action ends in early January, but the union has announced it will be holding another ballot of members.
Impact of the Strike
The strike is expected to cause significant disruption, particularly in hospitals, with resident doctors representing nearly half the medical workforce. They will walk out of both emergency and routine care, with senior doctors brought in to provide cover. The strike will also have an impact on patients, who may face delays or cancellations of appointments and procedures. The NHS is already under pressure, and the strike will add to the challenges it faces.
Conclusion
The strike by resident doctors in England is a significant development in the long-running pay dispute between the BMA and the government. The union is seeking a pay increase, while the government has offered a deal involving creating more training posts, improving working conditions, and helping with out-of-pocket expenses. The strike is expected to cause significant disruption, particularly in hospitals, and will have an impact on patients. The BMA’s mandate for strike action ends in early January, but the union has announced it will be holding another ballot of members, indicating that the dispute is far from over.