Senior NHS Doctors Demand 11% Pay Rise as Hospitals Experience Third Strike
Senior NHS doctors have embarked on their third strike this year, demanding an 11% pay increase. Consultants walked out of hospitals at 7am today, causing significant disruption to routine appointments and operations. Junior doctors will join the strike tomorrow, and their own action will continue until Saturday morning.
While patients have been advised to use emergency care as normal, health chiefs have expressed concerns that this strike poses the highest level of risk in recent memory. However, Dr. Vishal Sharma, chair of the British Medical Association’s consultants’ committee, assured that a safe level of service would still be provided.
The BMA has written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Steve Barclay outlining their demands to resolve the pay dispute. Dr. Sharma stated that strikes could be avoided if the government presented a credible offer. He emphasized the importance of reaching an agreement to prevent further strikes and ensure the recruitment and retention of experienced NHS staff.
The BMA is calling for pay restoration and reform of the pay review body that advises ministers on salary increases. They argue that consultants’ pay has been cut in real-terms since 2008. Dr. Sharma highlighted the demoralization and burnout among NHS staff, which has led to this strike action. He urged for an above-inflation pay award of approximately 11%.
The strike action has already caused significant disruption, with hundreds of thousands of appointments rescheduled. NHS leaders warn that patients, including cancer patients, are experiencing multiple reschedules due to strikes. The NHS Confederation expressed concerns that the situation is being underestimated by the government and that patients are facing serious risks.
This strike comes after the government’s offer of a 6% pay rise for consultants and junior doctors, which was rejected by the BMA. The government plans to extend strike laws to ensure healthcare workers provide a minimum level of cover during strikes. Steve Barclay, the Health Secretary, stated that the current service levels provided during strikes do not strike the right balance and discussed plans to protect time-critical hospital services.
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