Junior doctors in England have begun a five-day strike – the 11th walkout in their long-running pay dispute. British Medical Association (BMA) members walked out from 07:00, with NHS England warning of significant disruption to routine hospital services.
The union said it was taking action as there had been no credible new offer – the last walkout was in February. But NHS bosses have criticised the timing of the latest action in the week running up to a general election.
The NHS Confederation said striking during the election campaign, when none of the political parties was in a position to resolve the dispute, was a “bitter pill to swallow”.
The government and BMA had agreed to independent arbitration, in May, but that was put on hold when the election was called – and the union then called the strike. It has asked for a 35% rise, to make up for what it says are 15 years of below-inflation pay rises.
Junior doctors received a pay rise averaging nearly 9% in the last financial year. The BMA last year walked out of talks in which an extra 3% pay rise on top was discussed.
Junior doctors make up nearly half the medical workforce in the NHS and two-thirds of them are BMA members, so NHS England is warning of significant disruption, pointing out the health service is already under extra pressure this week due to the hot weather.
Source: BBC
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