Junior Doctors in England to Stage Further Strikes Over Pay Dispute
Junior doctors in England are gearing up for further strikes over pay, having turned down a fresh government offer. This rejection has prompted the British Medical Association (BMA) to declare additional strikes in December and January.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has revealed plans for three days of strikes starting from 7 AM on December 20 and a six-day walkout beginning at 7 AM on January 3. This decision follows five weeks of talks between the BMA and the government, where the BMA insisted on a 35% pay increase to address below-inflation rises since 2008.
The rejected deal, offering an additional 3% on average this year, was criticised by the BMA as "not credible" and deemed insufficient to counteract pay cuts for many doctors this year.
Junior doctors committee co-chairs, Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi, expressed disappointment, stating, "After five weeks of intense talks, the government was unable to present a credible offer on pay by the deadline."
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins expressed her disappointment at the breakdown in negotiations, stating, "The new strikes will result in more disruption for patients and extra pressure on NHS services and staff as we enter a busy winter period, risking patient safety."
Atkins urged the BMA to reconsider, emphasising that the strikes could lead to additional cancellations of appointments and treatments, compounding the challenges faced by the NHS.
The BMA leaders have maintained their stance, stating that the strikes could be avoided if the government presented a credible offer.
The announcement follows a recent deal between the BMA and the government regarding consultants, who also faced strike action. The proposed deal for consultants involves an average pay increase of nearly 5% in January, in addition to the 6% rise received in April. Other health workers accepted a pay offer of 5% more and a one-off sum of at least £1,655 in May.
