Don’t put off treatment during doctors’ strike, NHS tells patients
Don’t delay care amid doctors’ strike, NHS advises
The NHS has urged patients to proceed with their scheduled medical treatments despite a six-day strike by resident doctors in England starting on Tuesday. Officials warn that the timing of the walkout, following a long bank holiday weekend, may lead to increased patient demand, posing a “particularly challenging” situation for services.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the strike as “disappointing,” emphasizing the need to safeguard both patients and staff by minimizing disruptions. He noted that the NHS managed to maintain nearly 95% of its planned operations during the previous December strikes, offering a point of reassurance.
Strike details and impact
Approximately tens of thousands of resident doctors, previously referred to as junior doctors, will participate in the strike from 07:00 BST on Tuesday until just before 07:00 on Monday, 13 April. The action follows a breakdown in negotiations over pay and working conditions that ended in March. NHS managers have confirmed that senior doctors will cover for the striking staff, though they acknowledge the added strain on these professionals.
“The NHS is still open for business and there are still plenty of people there available to care for you,” said Prof Ramani Moonesinghe, national clinical director for critical and perioperative care at NHS England. “If you have a planned appointment — unless you have been specifically told it has been postponed or cancelled — you should attend as usual. For emergencies or urgent conditions, follow the same steps you would normally take: call 111 or 999 for urgent care, visit A&E, or consult your GP or local pharmacy for less critical issues.”
Union’s perspective and pay dispute
Dr Jack Fletcher, chairman of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, highlighted the exhaustion and demoralization felt by striking doctors. “Many senior doctors will be covering for us, and while that benefits patients, we know they are also exhausted and as demoralised as we are,” he stated.
The BMA argued that the recent strike would still cause disruption, despite NHS England’s assurances. The union criticized the government for rescinding a key part of its pay offer, removing 1,000 additional training places. This decision was attributed to the unfeasibility of the plan financially and operationally, though the NHS noted that these roles would be filled from existing temporary positions.
While the government had previously agreed to a 3.5% pay rise for all doctors, including resident doctors, the BMA contended that the progression through salary bands had been “watered down.” The union highlighted that resident doctors’ pay, adjusted for inflation using the RPI measure, remains 20% lower than it was in 2008. This calculation reflects the government’s method for student loan interest, according to the BMA.
Resident doctors comprise nearly half of the NHS workforce, with two-thirds belonging to the BMA. The strike represents the 15th industrial action in the ongoing pay dispute, underscoring the depth of the disagreement over fair compensation and career development opportunities.
