In December and January, junior physicians in England will engage in additional strikes in opposition to a new salary proposal during negotiations with the government.
The British Medical Association (BMA) union estimated that the proposal’s average value increased by 3% this year. This is in addition to the 8.8% increase that was previously announced.
The demonstrations will last six days, beginning at 07:00 on January 3, and three days, starting at 07:00 on December 20.
The NHS will observe its longest-ever New Year’s strike.
It occurs during what is historically one of the most hectic times for the NHS when emergency services are frequently under tremendous pressure.
The impasse has materialised after five weeks of negotiations during which industrial action was halted.
The BMA requests a 35% wage increase to compensate for allegedly below-inflation increases since 2008.
According to sources, the government declined to comment on the offer’s specifics; had the negotiations persisted, there would have been additional flexibility.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins described the withdrawal of junior medical leaders from negotiations as “disappointing.
She claimed the strikes will strain NHS services and personnel throughout the busiest season, endangering patient safety.
Co-chairs of the BMA junior doctors committee, Dr Vivek Trivedi and Dr Robert Laurenson, stated, “We have made it clear from the beginning of these negotiations that we must move quickly; without a credible offer, we will be compelled to declare strikes.”
The government could not submit a credible pay proposal in time after an extensive five-week period of contentious negotiations.
Conversely, we were presented with a supplementary 3%, which was inequitably distributed among the various grades of physicians. Despite this, numerous physicians will continue to experience salary reductions this year.
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NHS Providers, which represents health administrators, Sir Julian Hartley, stated, “NHS leaders had been dreading this outcome.
Since NHS industrial action began, nearly one million appointments and procedures have been cancelled.
Although walkouts have occurred among physiotherapists, nurses, and ambulance personnel, physician walkouts have been the most disruptive.
Pay Agreement:
The junior physicians’ April salary increase was weighted. Those just beginning their training and thus earning the least received the most significant gains.
The announcement of additional strikes by the BMA follows last week’s pay agreement between the union and the government regarding senior physicians or consultants who have also engaged in strike activity.
This agreement will now be put to a vote by consultants. It entails a nearly 5% average salary increase in January, in addition to the 6% increase they received in April.
Additional health professionals, such as nurses, agreed to a 5% rise and a minimum one-time payment of £1,655 in May.
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