Tens of thousands of junior doctors in England have embarked on a four-day strike, marking the fifth round of strikes as their pay dispute with the British government remains unresolved, and raising concerns that this issue may persist into the winter months.
The striking doctors, many of whom have recently started their first jobs in the state-funded National Health Service (NHS), are responsible for significant routine work in hospitals and often work long hours. This strike will inevitably contribute to the growing backlog within the NHS, which is already grappling with challenges. According to the NHS, the number of procedures and appointments being canceled or rescheduled is expected to reach 1 million by the time the doctors return to work, incurring a cost of £1 billion.
The British Medical Association (BMA), representing around 75,000 junior doctors, has been advocating for a 35% pay increase to bring their pay back to 2008 levels, accounting for inflation. However, the government has offered only a 6% increase with an additional consolidated rise, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has emphasized that further discussions will not take place.
Sumi Manirajan, a 29-year-old junior doctor and deputy co-chair of the BMA’s U.K. doctor committee, expressed concerns about colleagues being at “burnout point” every day due to the challenges they face. She stated that they are not seeking a pay raise but rather a return to the pay levels of 2008. Some of her friends have already left the NHS after just one year of service, opting to work in Australia.
The government has defended its pay offer, asserting that it is fair and that meeting the pay demand could contribute to inflation across the U.K. Treasury minister John Glen highlighted the government’s responsibility to make responsible pay settlements, taking into account recommendations from the Independent Pay Review body.
Similar to other European nations, the United Kingdom has experienced disruptive strikes in various sectors, including teachers, train drivers, and nurses, all seeking pay increases to keep up with the rising consumer prices. Last month, the government announced pay raises for millions of public sector workers, leading to the suspension of strike action by teachers.
Notably, junior doctors are not the only group within the NHS involved in pay disputes with the government. Radiographers and senior doctors (consultants) have also gone on strike recently. Nurses, however, have concluded their strike action after a vote among members failed to meet the required number of votes in favor of another walkout.