London – UK
A five-day strike by junior doctors in England has been announced, set to take place from July 25 to July 30. The strike, involving around 50,000 doctors, will force hospitals to cancel tens of thousands of routine appointments.
The British Medical Association (BMA) announced the strike after rejecting Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s offer to improve working conditions. The BMA is seeking a 29% pay rise for junior doctors, who have received a 5.4% pay award this year, following a 22% increase last year.
Government Response
Streeting criticized the BMA for calling strikes less than 24 hours after announcing ballot results, stating that the NHS recovery is “hanging by a thread” and the BMA’s actions could jeopardize it. He urged the BMA to abandon the strike and work with the government to improve junior doctors’ working lives.
Impact on Patients
The strike will likely lead to significant disruptions, including:
– *Cancelled Appointments*: Tens of thousands of routine appointments will be cancelled, with A&E services given priority
– *Increased Waiting Times*: Patients may face longer waiting times for treatments
– *NHS Resources*: The strike will divert attention away from improving services to focus on planning to keep services safe
Reactions from NHS Leaders
– *Daniel Elkeles, NHS Providers*: “Announcing five days of strike action with just two weeks’ notice can only be harmful… It’s totally unfair to patients whose care will be cancelled”
– *Danny Mortimer, NHS Employers*: “Resident doctors downing tools for five days of strikes will have a huge impact on the NHS and its patients”
– *Meghana Pandit, NHS England*: “It’s disappointing the BMA have announced strike action, particularly so close to the ten-year health plan”
