By Charlotte Webster-
Junior doctors in England are set to stage prolonged strikes in December and January following the rejection of a new pay offer during talks with the government.
The British Medical Association (BMA) union disclosed that the proposed deal, which offered an additional 3% on average this year, had been turned down. This comes in addition to the 8.8% rise already granted.
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The strikes are scheduled for three days from 07:00 on December 20 and an unprecedented six days from 07:00 on January 3, making it the longest in the history of the NHS.
These dates coincide with a traditionally busy period for the NHS, placing emergency services under significant strain.
The breakdown in talks follows five weeks of negotiations, during which industrial action had been temporarily halted. The BMA advocates for a 35% pay uplift to address what it claims are below-inflation rises since 2008.
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Health Secretary Victoria Atkins expressed disappointment that junior doctor leaders had walked away from negotiations.
She stated that the impending strikes would cause further disruption for patients, adding extra pressure on NHS services and staff during a busy winter period, potentially compromising patient safety.
The BMA junior doctors committee co-chairs, Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi, emphasized their commitment to swift progress during talks.
However, they asserted that the government failed to present a credible pay offer by the deadline.
The offered additional 3%, unevenly distributed across doctors’ grades, was deemed insufficient, potentially resulting in pay cuts for many doctors this year.
Sir Julian Hartley of NHS Providers, representing health managers, expressed concern over the outcome, stating it was the scenario NHS leaders had dreaded. Since the initiation of industrial action in the NHS, over a million appointments and treatments have been canceled, with doctor strikes proving the most disruptive.
The pay rise granted to junior doctors in April was weighted to benefit those at the start of training, receiving the most significant raises. The announcement of extended strikes by the BMA follows last week’s pay deal for senior doctors or consultants, who are set to vote on an average pay rise of nearly 5% in January, on top of the 6% rise received in April.
While other health workers, including nurses, accepted a pay offer of an extra 5% and a one-off sum of at least £1,655 in May, the impasse with junior doctors highlights ongoing challenges in addressing compensation disparities within the NHS.
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