By Charlotte Webster-
Junior doctors across Northern Ireland have initiated a 48-hour strike, commencing at 7 am on Thursday and continuing until 7 am on Saturday. This action, driven by concerns over pay and staff retention, marks the second such walkout within a month and is expected to significantly impact hospitals and GP surgeries across the region.
The striking junior doctors, represented by BMA Northern Ireland, will also convene at Stormont for a rally on Thursday afternoon to amplify their demands. The union is advocating for a commitment to full pay restoration to 2008 levels, asserting that the salaries of junior doctors have effectively been reduced by 30% over the past 15 years due to pay awards failing to keep pace with inflation.
AD: Capeesh Restaurant
Dr. Fiona Griffin, chairwoman of the BMA Northern Ireland junior doctors committee, emphasized the challenges faced by newly qualified medics in the region. “Our colleagues in other parts of the UK and in different jurisdictions are receiving better pay and working conditions for less stressful workloads,” she noted. “This disparity is causing an alarming rate of departures from our health service.”
The current strike follows a previous 48-hour walkout from May 22 to 24, underscoring the escalating tensions between the junior doctors and the health authorities. The Department of Health has acknowledged the anticipated widespread disruption to services during the strike period.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Health addressed the concerns raised by the junior doctors. They highlighted that at the time of the ballot for industrial action, no health service staff, including junior doctors, had received a pay award for the 2023/24 fiscal year. However, they noted that this situation has changed, and a backdated pay award for 2023/24 will be issued this month, aligning with the national pay review body’s recommendations.
AD: Oysterian Sea Food Restaurant And Bar
“This pay award involves an average pay increase of 9.07% for junior doctors in Northern Ireland, with those in their first year receiving a 10.68% uplift,” the spokesperson added.
Despite this pay adjustment, junior doctors remain resolute in their demands for a more comprehensive resolution that addresses the long-term erosion of their pay and working conditions. As the strike continues, the focus remains on the rally at Stormont, where junior doctors will seek to garner broader support for their cause and push for meaningful changes in the healthcare system.
AD: Heritage And Restaurant Lounge Bar