BY ERIC KING
Thousands of junior doctors in England have staged the first ever strike in the history of the NHS, as they walked out of both routine and emergency care this morning in protest at the imposition of a new contract from the summer. Currently, doctors are paid a higher wage for unsocial hours during the weekend, but will receive a basic wage for unsocial hours under the new contract, and a rise only in their basic wage package.
The unresolved dispute between junior doctors and the government looks bad for the latter, who always find some sort of rhetoric to try and justify their woeful failings. Any Joe Bloggs will tell you that the NHS is a crucial and very important service to society that deserves is due respect, and nothing short of a full compromise on the part of the government will be good enough here. And despite some of the secondary measures the NHS have put place to help anyone who falls ill during the strikes, the strikes will heavily affect many sick people for as long as it lasts.
It is the first time services such as A&E, maternity and intensive care have been hit in the long-running dispute.
NHS bosses believe plans are in place to ensure safety, but say the situation will be monitored closely during the stoppage which ends at 17:00 BST.
Further all-out strike action is due to take place on Wednesday, between the same hours.
The official word from the NHS is that ”military planning” has been carried out to cater for emergency issues. The dispute has between junior doctors and the government has been going on for ages, with no obvious resolution in sight. A majority of the public are supporting junior doctors, and disappointed hugely in the government’s handling of this matter. The thousands of junior doctors striking for the first time, sends a message to the government that they will not be undervalued, and if they want the NHS in this country to thrive and continue to attract more qualified and professional doctors, they need to put up or shut up.
