General practitioners, pharmacists and nurses are among the NHS workers called to help trusts deal with this week’s young doctors’ strike.
Professor Sir Stephen Powys, NHS England’s National Medical Director, warned that four days of junior doctors’ strike amid fierce wage disputes would put “tremendous pressure” on staff and services.
The strike starts right after the Easter weekend.
When is the strike?
The strike will run from 07:00 Tuesday morning until Saturday morning, April 15. Nearly 37,000 of the 47,692 voting members of the BMA voted in favor of the strike, with 98 percent voting in favor of the strike.
What impact will the services have?
NHS England announced in a statement that staff are being asked to prioritize emergency and emergency care to some of the usual practices and procedures to ensure safe care for people in life-threatening situations.
The Department of Health added that appointments and surgeries would only be canceled “if necessary” and patients would be offered alternative appointments as soon as possible.
More than 250,000 visits and operations are expected to be canceled during the strike.
Professor Sir Stephen said: “The NHS was fully prepared for the next wave of strikes, but dealing with the additional pressure is not getting easier as time goes on – it will be much more difficult, not only because of the sheer number of appointments. be produced. be delayed, but also something that may take some time to reorganize when multiple teams are involved.
“This will be the most disruptive union action in the history of the NHS and tomorrow’s strikes will put tremendous pressure on staff and services to extend public holiday holidays.
“Emergency, emergency and emergency care will take precedence, but unfortunately some patients will reschedule their appointments – if not, please stay in touch.”
Up to a quarter of a million visits and surgeries could be delayed, according to the NHS Confederation.
In an article for Sunday TelegraphHealth Minister Steve Barclay said the BMA management’s decision to maintain an “unrealistic stance” on a 35 percent pay rise has blocked any progress in talks between the two sides.
“This requirement falls far short of wage agreements in other parts of the public sector at a time of significant economic pressure on our country. A salary increase of this magnitude would mean that some future doctors would be paid more than £20,000 a year,” he said.
“I recognize their hard work and dedication. But it is deeply disappointing that this union action was orchestrated by a committee of junior doctors of the British Medical Association (BMA) in such a way as to cause maximum harm to both patients and other NHS staff.”
Mr Barclay said he remains “determined” to find a fair deal that will benefit young doctors while also cutting inflation in half.
Dr Mike Greenhalgh, deputy co-chair of the BMA’s Committee of Associate Physicians, said on the BBC One morning show on Sunday: “It’s hard to negotiate when only one side is doing it and we’re getting nothing in return from the government on that front.”
He added: “We are always happy to meet. We will still meet him over the public holiday weekend for a union action next week.
“And if he makes us a credible offer even at this late stage, that could delay action.”
Young doctors make up about half of all doctors in the NHS, according to NHS England. These are licensed physicians who, depending on their specialty, have up to eight years of experience in a hospital or up to three years in general medicine.
The Health Service said people should still be able to access the care they need in the normal way, only in life-threatening emergencies using 999 and A&E, and using NHS 111 online services and other services for non-urgent medical needs.
Source: I News
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