NHS bosses putting patients at risk in strike, says BMA

The British Medical Association says NHS bosses keep patients under the risk of damaging the upcoming doctor strike.

The Union believes that NHS Britain’s plan to limit the number of canceled routine treatments will expand senior doctors, which are very finely covered by striking doctors.

NHS ordered hospitals to cancel non -urgent care, such as hip and knee operations in exceptional cases.

However, BMA Deputy Leader Dr. Emma Runswick said that the plan caused a number of last -minute cancellation and the worst of all of which can cause risk and harm. “

The strike of the resident doctors – the new name of young doctors – will start on Friday at 07:00 BST.

“Senior doctors cannot be physically in two places at the same time, Dr Dr Runswick said.

He continued: “We think that the majority of planned and planned maintenance should change.”

During previous strikes in 2023 and 2024, non -emergency studies have been canceled in large amounts, so that senior doctors can provide cover in emergencies and emergency services.

This came after NHS said that the re -planning of the UK to reservations and appointments would be “unfortunately necessary” to maintain safe care.

It was canceled in some hospitals until half of the planned maintenance.

However, this new approach is controlled by Sir Jim Mackey, the General Manager of NHS in the spring after Amanda Pritchard’s resignation.

NHS Sources in the UK said that canceling non -emergency is at risk for patients, and said it is determined to minimize the disruption.

Dr Runswick also defended the amounts accused by senior doctors for covering the located doctors during the strike. BMA suggested that consultants get more than £ 300 per hour for night shifts.

Dr Runswick said that sometimes NHS should “encourage” doctors outside their normal work.

The issue of how the strike days should be organized last week was discussed at the meetings between BMA NHS England, and the Union officially wrote Sir Jim by summarizing his concerns.

The letter warns that the personnel have been extended as “very thin”.

NHS British co -director Prof Meghana Pandit said: “The safest thing for patients is that NHS maintains as much urgent and planned care during strikes – and we will encourage BMA to work in a constructive way to achieve this in the event where the industrial action continues.”

The government and the BMA, negotiations aimed at preventing strikes are continuing. Discussions have been going on since Thursday.

Following a 22% increase in the last two years, resident doctors have been given an average wage increase of 5.4% for this financial year.

However, the British Association says that fees are still 20% lower than 2008 and demand “wage restoration”.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting clearly stated that there will be no extra fees this year, but it is thought that students are considered to be other aspects, including debts, exam fees and working practices.

If the strike is to be called, it is likely to be done before Wednesday morning to avoid major cuts. Almost half of the doctors are established doctors, and two -thirds of which are members of the BMA.

The resident doctors participated in 11 separate strikes in 2023 and 2024 and led to the cancellation of hundreds of thousands of polyclinic appointments and other hospital procedures.