Intern doctors in England have voted for a strike that will wreak more havoc on the NHS and put more pressure on the government in the ongoing wage dispute.
Up to 47,600 medics will leave hospitals for 72 hours without emergency care next month after overwhelming support for union action. This marks a sharp escalation in the battle between NHS workers and the government over pay increases.
The British Medical Association (BMA) said almost every young doctor who voted to strike voted to strike, with a turnout of over 77 percent. Nearly 37,000 votes were cast, and 98 percent of the votes were in favor of the strike.
The BMA is aiming to restore wages to 2008 levels – a 26 percent increase – and said there was “no meaningful interaction” with the government. She has already announced that if the decision is positive, a 72-hour strike will be called. About 200,000 non-emergency appointments and surgeries are expected to be delayed.
Dr. Robert Lawrence and Dr. Vivek Trivedi, Co-Chair of the BMA Young Doctors Committee, said: “This vote is no doubt a testament to the strength of feeling among the majority of young doctors in England. We are frustrated, in desperation and anger, and we voted by the thousands to say, “For the sake of our profession, our patients, and our National Health Service, doctors don’t take this anymore.”
“The government is guilty and stands in quiet indifference while our members are forced to make this difficult decision. Since 2008, real wages have fallen by more than 26 percent. This year we were offered a crazy salary of 2 percent, which means that with inflation of more than 10 percent, we have been working for more than a month for nothing.
“In addition, deteriorating conditions mean more doctors are being poached away from the NHS in search of better paying medical careers and a better quality of life elsewhere. There is no doubt that this is a crisis, but it is the fault of the government, which so far refuses to have serious discussions with us about wages. The road to recovery must begin with ministers listening to us and paying us what we are worth.”
The BMA said young doctors have no choice because “patients are suffering and exhausted staff are burning out and leaving the NHS.” He accused the government of “not seeing the crisis” and treating the public like fools, with assurances that the National Health Service had all the resources it needed.
The Royal College of Nursing has announced that it will hold a 48-hour strike from 1 to 3 March as it plans to launch more strikes next month over a wage dispute.
Saffron Corderi, deputy director of NHS Providers representing the trusts, said hospital leaders were “deeply concerned” about the joint action.
“Ein beispielloser 72-stündiger Streik im nächsten Monat ist äußerst besorgniserregend, da der NHS mit den Folgen des am weitesten verbreiteten Arbeitskampfes in seiner Geschichte zu kämpfen hat, der bald einen 48-stündigen Streik der Krankenschä ab rdem 1.” She said. .
“NHS leaders are deeply concerned about how this will affect their ability to provide care, especially since hospitals have not received emergency care from junior doctors for three days in a row.
“More than 140,000 appointments have already been delayed due to union action. This number will increase significantly as the number of strikes by nurses, paramedics, and now residents increases. An urgent decision is needed if we are to avoid harm to patients and the NHS. “
Health and Welfare Minister Steve Barclay said: “We greatly appreciate the work done by young doctors and it is very disappointing that some union members voted to strike. As part of a multi-year agreement we reached with the BMA, residents’ wages have increased by 8.2 percent since 2019/20. We have also introduced higher wages for our most experienced employees and higher rates for night shifts.
“I have met with the BMA and other medical unions to discuss what is fair and affordable, as well as broader concerns about conditions and workload. I want to continue discussing how we can make the NHS a better place to work for everyone.”
The title of Physician Associate can refer to anyone below the board of physician level, from medical graduates to specialist registrars. Depending on their specialty, they have up to eight years of experience as a hospital doctor or up to three years in general medicine. More than 125,000 surgeries and appointments were canceled in 2016 as young doctors staged the first full-scale strike in healthcare history, lasting two days.
The BMA said it will now begin preparations for the strikes, with exact dates to be announced “soon.”
Source: I News
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