Senior clinicians have warned that up to half of England’s doctors could be absent next week during the planned four-day strike by junior doctors.
NHS officials insist the NHS is likely to come under overwhelming pressure immediately after the Easter break if strikes continue from Tuesday.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, told The Times: “There is no doubt that next week will be even more challenging for NHS services, with the pressure of a bank holiday weekend combined with four days of Labor dispute . . . – where hospitals will lose up to half of their medical staff for 96 hours.”
The British Medical Association insisted the 96-hour strike, which starts on Tuesday, could be averted if ministers make a “credible offer” to reduce junior doctor’s pay to 2008 levels.
The BMA is aiming for a 25 per cent pay rise to offset wage rises 15 years below inflation, which the government felt was unrealistic.
Medical chiefs are warning that the loss of junior doctors could “overwhelm” A&E services from Thursday. The photo shows young doctors who went on strike in London on March 14, 2023
Striking doctors gather outside Downing Street on 13 March 2023, organized by the BMA
With nearly 30,000 absent during a strike last month, 175,000 appointments and operations were cancelled.
More than 250,000 cancellations are expected in the coming week. A doctor told the BBC that up to half of all scheduled treatments could be cancelled.
Young doctors make up 40 percent of the medical workforce.
A hospital boss also told the NHS federation that “basic patient safety will be at risk”, with emergency rooms likely to be “completely overwhelmed”.
Sky reported that the impact of the strike is likely to be felt for 11 days, with less coverage available over Easter and then again the following weekend.
DR Layla McCay, policy director at the NHS confederation, said health leaders were bracing for the “biggest strikes in a decade” with “many aspects of patient care coming to the fore”.
Those responsible believe that the cover available in March will not be available next week due to the Easter holiday and pre-booked holiday arrangements.
The BMA website says junior doctors in England’s NHS are striking this year in a bid for full pay backs “to reverse the steep decline” since 2008/9.
They are also seeking a mechanism with the government to prevent future declines amid rising living costs and inflation.
And they are trying to reform processes to ensure pay reviews are recommended independently and fairly.
“The government continues to refuse to negotiate with the BMA to restore junior doctor salaries, leaving us with no choice but to call for a strike by NHS junior doctors,” the BMA said.
A resident holds a placard as he stands at a picket line outside St Thomas’ Hospital in Westminster, London on Monday March 13, 2023.
A striking young doctor holds a sign outside Leeds General Infirmary on March 13, 2023 in Leeds, Britain
Young doctors from the BMA union on their picket line at St Thomas’ Hospital on 15 March 2023 in London
It was previously announced that the BMA was holding the strike between April 11 at 07:00 and April 15 at 07:00 after talks with ministers broke down.
Dr. Vivek Trivedi and Dr. Robert Laurenson, co-chairman of BMA’s Junior Doctors Committee, said they had announced the new union action “with disappointment and great frustration”.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay urged doctors to leave and think about how they wanted to proceed, saying further talks were pointless until they were prepared to compromise.
Source link
Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
