The British Medical Association asserts that junior physicians’ income has decreased by 26.1% in real terms over the previous 15 years. And that they were excluded from NHS pay increases this year, but that the health minister refuses to meet with them.
If they opt for industrial action in a ballot beginning next week, junior physicians will go on strike for the second time ever in March.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has scheduled potential strike action for the month of March. In advance of a vote beginning on Monday.
The BMA said that junior physicians, or any doctor below the consultant level. In England will strike for 72 hours and will not provide emergency care throughout the strike. To ensure patient safety, trusts will be required to organize emergency coverage, according to the document.
Uncertainty exists as to whether the strike will occur. However, it is expected that the criterion of 50% of those balloted to strike will be satisfied.
If the walkout occurs, it will be the second time junior physicians have gone on strike over salary and working conditions.
In 2016, when Chancellor Jeremy Hunt was serving as health secretary, the very first strikes occurred.
Junior doctors will strike for three days in March
Junior doctors are requesting a wage increase after being excluded from an NHS pay increase this year. It isdue to a multi-year pay agreement that grants them a 2% raise for 2022/2023.
They have also said that junior doctors in England have experienced a salary decrease in real terms over the past 15 years. Amounting to a 26.1% decline in compensation since 2008/9.
And the British Medical Association asserts that the risk to patients posed by the poor pay has left it with no choice. But to ballot junior physicians for strike action.
Rishi Sunak and Mr. Barclay
The British Medical Association has encouraged Health Secretary Steve Barclay to talk with physicians to prevent industrial action.
Both Rishi Sunak and Mr. Barclay have stated that unions are welcome to speak with them. And the prime minister has stated that they will meet with all unions on Monday.
However, according to the British Medical Association, Mr. Barclay is “the only health secretary in over 50 years to continue to ignore all offers” to meet with physicians.
British Medical Association
Drs. Vivek Trivedi and Robert Laurenson, co-chairs of the BMS committee for young doctors, stated. “When we are confronted with such persistent, ongoing silence and there is no settlement on the table. We are compelled to take action.
“Doctors in training are not worth a quarter less than they were fifteen years ago, nor do they deserve to be regarded so little by their government.
“Pay deterioration, tiredness, and despondency are causing junior physicians to leave the National Health Service. Causing waiting lists to become even longer while patients suffer needlessly.
“The unwillingness of the government to confront 15 years of pay loss. It has forced junior doctors to vote for strike action.
If the government is unwilling to defend our health service, we will.
In December, ambulance workers, NHS auxiliary employees, and nurses all went on strike over salary and working conditions.
The nurses are scheduled to strike again on January 18 and 19. But this could be avoided after the Royal College of Nursing stated on Thursday. That it would accept a 10% wage increase as opposed to 19% to resolve its continuing dispute.
