The NHS is preparing for the first ever joint strike by consultants and junior doctors taking place this week.
Consultants begin their strike action on Tuesday (September 19th) and are joined by junior doctors on Wednesday (September 20th).
On Wednesday from 7am, both junior doctors and consultants will deliver Christmas day levels of staffing only, meaning just emergency care will be provided. Both groups will then strike on 2nd, 3rd and 4th October, again providing Christmas day cover.
Now in the tenth month of industrial action across the NHS, staff continue to work hard to provide patients with the best possible care. Previous industrial action by consultants last month saw around 6,000 staff off per day due to industrial action.
The industrial action is being taken in a dispute over pay.
The BMA said: “Our consultant members voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action.
“The Government’s derisory pay uplift of just under 6% is an insult to consultants. Our aim is to fix consultant pay now and for retirement.
“This should begin with an agreement to provide an above inflationary pay award for 2023-24.
“We have provided every opportunity to avert industrial action. It has become apparent that, so far, they are unwilling to take the steps necessary to resolve this dispute.”
The NHS is reminding the public that they should continue to use health services as they usually would – using 999 and A&E in life threatening situations and using 111 online for other health concerns. GPs and pharmacies can be used by the public for health advice and appointments as normal.
So derisory , 6% of £100,000 so a £6000 pay rise, excluding all the private work they do.
I never used to think of consultants and doctors as greedy but I do now.
No compassion for all the sick and suffering on waiting lists, yet they will be wringing their hands on the TV saying it is for the good of the patients.
John if you want to call people “ greedy” look at Tory MPs who most have 2/3/4 extra jobs as well has their £86.584 year pay for being completely unqualified amateurs plus their expenses.
If it was down to me doctors would be paid £150,000 per year
on the condition that they ONLY work in the NHS if they want to work in the private sector then that’s up to them but they should Not be allowed to work in the NHS as well as doing private work. No one can be in two places at the same time all the time they are doing private they are not available in the NHS. Those patients who want to go private can go private but don’t expect the NHS to put things right when the private hospitals have done things wrong.
As they are enployed to look after people’s health, I’m just wondering if you can sue them, or the N.H.S. if a loved one dies while they are on strike, and they refuse to help, because that’s what being on strike is, withdrawing all your assistance, but the people have paid for this service via their taxes
Paul Link, remember its this Tory government that is causing all public service/essential workers to take strike action! They are trying to force them to take a pay cut to pay for their economic mess over the last 13 years, and have you also forgotten Liz Trust tanking the economy last year which increased mortgage rates, and rents to a level not seen before! I would like to see all MP’s take a 36% pay cut, the same as the doctors are being told to, that would concentrate their minds a bit would’t it?
The hospitals are covered by consultants and doctors when they hold strikes. It’s “Christmas day type cover” they don’t all walk out. It’s the government who should be held responsible it the government who have made this situation and the rail system come about. This useless good for nothing corrupt government.
They have been on strike for 3 & a half years now. About time they accepted the fortune they have been offered by the wonderful listener & compromiser Steve Barclay & get back to work.
Your just a wind up merchant Tory Boy, see my post above.
Good enough for Thanet Binmen on low wages, but not good enough for BMW driving Consultants on 150-500k a year?