There are growing fears that the strike by junior doctors could force “vulnerable” hospitals to close emergency rooms and cause months of NHS chaos.
Health unions have been mocked for promising to end the crippling 96-hour strike if ministers make a “credible” offer – while still insisting they will accept a pay rise of no less than 35 per cent.
Ministers fear the dispute could drag on for months, harming patients and jeopardizing Rishi Sunak’s pledge to reduce NHS waiting lists.
A government source said the young doctors had been “misled” by the British Medical Association accepting a “ridiculous” pay claim and refusing to guarantee confidentiality in salary negotiations.
“They want us to agree to a 35 percent deal before they even walk into the room to talk about this year’s salary,” the source said. “It’s so far out of reach that it’s hard to take seriously. They also refuse confidential discussions – this is not a serious position.”
Co-chairs of the BMA’s Young Doctors Committee, Vivek Trivedi (left) and Rob Laurenson, speak to the media outside the Department of Health and Social Care in London after meeting Health Secretary Steve Barclay.
Trainee doctors have been mocked for promising to call off strikes if ministers make a “credible” offer – while still insisting they will not accept a pay rise of less than 35 per cent
Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, told The Times: “Most emergency departments will be able to handle it, but it’s going to be very tight. It was more difficult to find cover for this attack. If emergency rooms are overwhelmed, they will eventually close parts of the services. They will try to stay open, but offer less coverage.”
He said the NHS would continue to suffer, even after the strikes, as advisers who continue to work instead take leave, further straining emergency departments.
“We just want it to be over,” he added.
Talks between the BMA and Health Minister Steve Barclay collapsed within half an hour last month after union officials refused to budge.
According to the BMA, the salaries of prospective doctors have fallen by 26 per cent in real terms since 2008/2009 because pay rises have been below inflation. It calls for a “full pay reinstatement”, which would be equivalent to a 35 per cent pay rise and worth up to £20,000 more for some medics.
The union says it has a strong mandate to act after a 77 per cent turnout among junior doctors and 98 per cent voted in favor of strike action.
Dr. Vivek Trivedi, co-chairman of BMA’s Committee on Trainee Doctors, indicated that the union was only prepared to negotiate how the salary increase should be achieved, not the amount of the salary increase.
He said: “We have always maintained that our aim is to restore full wages – to reverse the more than 26 per cent cut in real wages that the Barclay government has imposed on us over the last 15 years, which the starting wages have only been pushed around.5 pound drop will increase.per hour to £19.
“We have always maintained that we are prepared to negotiate how we can secure a wage recovery.”
He added: “We are still ready to suspend the strike this week if the foreign minister makes a credible offer that can form the basis for negotiations.” Mathew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents health organisations, urged the government and the BMA to “move negotiations forward”.
Thousands of striking junior doctors march past Britain’s parliament to the Department of Health and Social Care
He said: “We would like to reiterate today how important it is to find a way for these two sides to talk to each other, because right now it feels like their positions are extremely locked in.” However, a second government source said: “We” are so far apart that there really isn’t much to talk about.”
Downing Street yesterday appealed to the BMA to drop the 35 per cent wage demand and end the strikes so that negotiations can begin. Other health unions representing nurses, paramedics and physiotherapists have negotiated a one-off payment and a 5 per cent pay rise and urged their members to agree.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said he was “ready and willing to engage for a fee” but stressed that the level of BMA demand was “totally at odds with pay agreements in other parts of the public sector”. Mr Sunak named reducing waiting lists as one of his five pre-election promises.
Downing Street has admitted the current strike is likely to lead to more than 180,000 canceled appointments, making progress towards the target.
A spokesman said: “This remains one of the Prime Minister’s top five priorities, but these strikes are affecting operations and appointments and that is why we want them to end.” The term resident includes all doctors below the specialist level.
A junior doctor starting in base year 1 can expect to earn a full-time base salary of £29,384 in 22/23.
In base year 1, doctors average additional income of around 31 per cent of base salary, for a total income of around £38,000. This rises to around £55,000 after three years.
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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.
