Thousands of NHS appointments to be cancelled as junior doctors strike

Junior doctors are walking out this morning in a dispute with the government over pay.

The fresh strikes are set to start at 7am on Wednesday and will run until 7am on Saturday – but NHS bosses are warning the number of people seeking emergency help will rise as hot weather continues.

This is the third strike by junior doctors – who can have up to eight years of experience as a hospital doctor or three years in general practice – this year and it’s set to cause mass disruption.

Thousands of patients are expected to have their operations and appointments rescheduled.

A similar walkout in April saw 196,000 hospital appointments and pre-planned operations rescheduled.

The British Medical Association (BMA) is calling for ‘full restoration’ of pay, which it says has seen a 26% cut, and says the Government has offered only 5% to end the dispute.

Dr Vivek Trivedi and Dr Robert Laurenson, co-chairmen of the BMA Junior Doctors’ Committee, said: ‘Junior doctors are in despair at this government’s refusal to listen.

‘It should never have taken two whole rounds of strike action to even put a number on the table, and for that number to be a 5% pay offer – in a year of double-digit inflation, itself another pay cut – beggars belief.

‘We have made clear that junior doctors are looking for the full restoration of our pay, which has seen a 26% cut.

‘Junior doctors in England have seen their pay cut in real terms by more than a quarter over the last 15 years.

‘Today they are demonstrating what that means to the survival of the NHS.’

There are concerns about staffing levels during the strikes, as some consultants say they won’t provide strike cover unless their employers agreed to a higher overtime rate.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS England’s national medical director, asked the public to play their part and ‘be sensible’ during the warm weather.

He said: ‘The NHS is facing significant disruption this week with a three-day strike that is set to be exacerbated by the ongoing hot weather – with the number of people seeking emergency care increasing as temperatures rise.

‘For the vulnerable and elderly, this includes drinking plenty of water, using sunscreen and avoiding prolonged periods in the sun or swimming in unsafe water – and please do also consider checking in on any vulnerable friends, family members or neighbours who may struggle with the heat and humidity.

‘People with conditions such as asthma should continue to use their inhalers.’

A BMA poll of 1,935 junior doctors in England, published today, found 53% are making plans to leave the NHS or are thinking about leaving as a result of the government’s response to industrial action.

Some 67% do not think the NHS in its current form will exist in 10 years and 88% expect the NHS to get worse over the next 18 months.

BMA chairman of council, Professor Philip Banfield, has written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak urging him to intervene to resolve the dispute.

The letter said: ‘No doctor wants to strike.

‘They have been forced to do so to try and get your government to listen and understand the realities of how desperate things have become on the frontline of the NHS.

‘I urge you to listen to our doctors and to meet with me and our Junior Doctors’ Committee as soon as possible to find a way forward in this dispute.’

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said it was ‘extremely disappointing’ the BMA was going ahead with further strike action.

He said: ‘This 72-hour walkout will put patient safety and our efforts to cut waiting lists at risk.

‘During recent meetings with representatives of the BMA Junior Doctors’ Committee, we made a fair and reasonable opening offer and were discussing both pay and non-pay issues until they chose to end the talks by announcing new strike dates.

‘If the BMA cancels these damaging and disruptive strikes and shows willingness to move significantly from their position, we can resume confidential talks and find a way forward, as we have done with other unions.’

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