Wes Streeting blasts five-day doctors’ strike as ‘slap in the face’ for NHS
Wes Streeting has hit out at the doctors’ union after it announced a new round of strikes, warning it was a “slap in the face” for NHS staff and would play directly into Nigel Farage’s hands.
The health secretary has accused the British Medical Association (BMA) of trying to “ruin” the NHS recovery with “workplace action” after resident doctors in England announced they will strike for five consecutive days next month over an ongoing row over jobs and pay.
The association claims that doctors are unemployed and have difficulty finding work
But Mr Streeting onlyIndependentHe said the strike “flies in the face of the wishes of his patients, who have consistently opposed these devastating strikes.”
Junior doctors have been in pay disputes since March 2023 and next month’s industrial action will be the 13th strike since it began. Their salaries have been increased by 28.9 per cent in the last three years, but the BMA says wages are still around 20 per cent lower in real terms than in 2008.
The BMA argues that the value of junior doctors’ salaries has been eroded by inflation since 2008/09 and has published hourly pay figures showing what the pay “restoration” they are seeking would look like.
But Mr Streeting described the move as “preposterous” and accused the BMA of “blocking a better deal for doctors” when most “want to keep their jobs”.
“This is a slap in the face to the rest of the NHS workforce who will continue to pick up the pieces and, most importantly, to patients who will see treatment cancelled,” he wrote.
“No more pro-NHS, pro-establishment doctors, government waiting on the sidelines. If the BMA tries to destroy the NHS recovery, the only person who will benefit is Nigel Farage.”
Saying that he met with the new management of the BMA last week for “respectful, constructive and hopeful” talks, the health minister emphasized that “it is not too late” to “end unnecessary strikes and return to meaningful dialogue”.
He said he agreed with the BMA that parts of the training and employment for junior doctors were “grossly unfair” and claimed he was trying to improve their lives.
“Instead of fighting the wars of the past, let’s build an NHS fit for the future together,” he added.
Doctors will strike from 7 a.m. on November 14 to 7 a.m. on November 19. This comes after junior doctors went on strike in July.
Junior doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, make up around half of all doctors in the NHS and the BMA argues that better pay would prevent them from leaving.
Chairman of the BMA’s resident doctors committee (RDC), Dr. “This wasn’t where we wanted it to be,” Jack Fletcher said when announcing the strikes.
“We have spent the last week in talks with the government, pressuring the health secretary to end the doctor unemployment scandal,” Dr Fletcher added.
“We know from our own survey that half of second-rate doctors in England are struggling to find work, millions of patients are waiting endlessly for treatment, shifts in hospitals are being emptied and their skills are being wasted. This cannot go on.
“While we would like to reach an agreement, the government does not appear to be doing so, leaving us with little choice but to call a strike.”
NHS Providers, who represent trusts, also warned patients would “pay the price” for doctors going off work for five days.
Daniel Elkeles, Chief Executive of NHS Providers, said: “Another junior doctors’ strike is the last thing the NHS needs, especially as we head into a tough winter for the healthcare service.
“Trust leaders will do all they can to prepare for this five-day work stoppage, but once again patients will pay the price.”
The strikes, which occur during the busiest period of the year in health services, are expected to cause serious disruptions, especially in hospitals.
The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) has warned that cases of flu are on the rise, especially in children.
UKHSA consultant epidemiologist Dr Conall Watson said: “data shows an increase in positive flu tests, particularly in children and young adults, as well as GP and emergency department visits.”
Meanwhile, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said doctors “should not be on strike”.
“Conservative policy is to ban doctors’ strikes in the same way that the police and military cannot strike,” he said. “We need to have adequate levels of health care. We had legislation to ensure minimum levels of service, Labor canceled that.”
Junior doctors have up to eight years of experience working as a hospitalist or three years in general practice, depending on their specialty.
