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NHS Advises Patients to Seek Care During Upcoming Resident Doctors' Strike in England
The NHS is advising patients in England to continue seeking necessary care as resident doctors prepare for a six-day strike starting Tuesday. The strike follows the government's withdrawal of 1,000 additional training places from its pay offer. Hospital teams plan to minimize disruptions, with emergency services remaining available.
Apr 5, 7:02 PM·2m read1 source
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The National Health Service (NHS) in England has advised patients not to delay seeking care during an upcoming strike by resident doctors. The British Medical Association (BMA) members are set to begin industrial action on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, lasting six days.
This action stems from ongoing disputes over pay and training opportunities. The Department of Health and Social Care announced last week that it would no longer provide 1,000 extra training places, citing financial and operational constraints. The government's pay offer to resident doctors stands at 3.5%.
The BMA is seeking a higher pay rise. NHS England stated that hospital teams will work to reduce disruptions during the strike. The action is expected to pose challenges due to the short notice period following the Easter weekend. Patients should attend scheduled appointments unless contacted for rescheduling.
For life-threatening emergencies, individuals are instructed to call 999 or visit accident and emergency (A&E) departments. > "Staff across the NHS will be doing everything they can this week to keep patients safe and ensure people can continue to get the care they need.
Secretary Wes Streeting described the strike decision as disappointing for patients and staff. He noted that the government's offer would leave resident doctors 35.2% better off on average compared to four years ago. Streeting emphasized efforts to protect patients and staff, referencing that nearly 95% of planned activity was delivered during December strikes.
Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA's resident doctors committee, stated that a potential deal was undermined when the government reduced funding and extended the offer over more years. He indicated that resident doctors aim to end strikes but require an acceptable offer that remains stable.
The strike coincides with industrial action by BMA staff, who received a 2.75% pay offer from the union, lower than the recommendation for resident doctors. This dispute affects tens of thousands of resident doctors across England, potentially impacting hospital operations nationwide.
