Patient Safety Fears as Junior Doctors in England Begin 4-Day Walkout

Striking junior doctors on the picket line outside the University College Hospital in London, on April 11, 2023. James Manning/PA Media

Junior doctors across England have begun a four-day strike in a worsening dispute over pay, which is set to cause serious disruption to the National Health Service (NHS).

It has been estimated that some 350,000 appointments and operations have been rescheduled as a result of the walkout by members of the British Medical Association (BMA).

NHS England said staff will be asked to prioritise emergency and urgent care over some routine appointments and procedures to ensure safe care for those in life-threatening situations.

The health body said appointments and operations will only be cancelled “where unavoidable” and patients will be offered alternative dates as soon as possible.

The BMA claims junior doctors in England have seen a 26 percent real-terms pay cut since 2008/09 because pay rises have been below inflation. It said the pay issue is making it harder to recruit and retain junior doctors.

The union has asked for a full pay restoration, but the government said it would be unaffordable as it would amount to a 35 percent pay rise.

‘Unparalleled’ Disruption

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, said the strike will cause “unparalleled” disruption, which could last “for weeks.”

He told Times Radio: “This is going to be the most disruptive period of strike action that we’ve seen this winter, probably the most disruptive period of action in NHS history.

“A few weeks ago, when we had three days of strike action by junior doctors, we saw over 175,000 appointments and procedures having to be rescheduled, so my expectation is that we will see more and perhaps considerably more than that this time.”

He said consultants will have to provide cover for the absent junior doctors, who make up to half of the medical workforce, and will have to focus on emergency services.

He also warned that it is becoming harder to keep patients safe during the industrial actions.

He told the BBC, “We are working very hard to ensure those emergency services are kept safe, that is our priority, but I’ve also got no doubt that that cover is very fragile.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay leaves 10 Downing Street, London, on March 15, 2023. Jordan Pettitt/PA Media

‘Extremely Disappointing’

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “It is extremely disappointing the BMA has called strike action for four consecutive days.

“Not only will the walkouts risk patient safety, but they have also been timed to maximise disruption after the Easter break.

“I hoped to begin formal pay negotiations with the BMA last month but its demand for a 35 percent pay rise is unreasonable—it would result in some junior doctors receiving a pay rise of over £20,000.

“If the BMA is willing to move significantly from this position and cancel strikes, we can resume confidential talks and find a way forward, as we have done with other unions.”

In contrast to the BMA’s pay demand, other health unions—representing nurses and other workers—have recommended to their members pay deals which include a 5 percent pay rise and one-off payment of at least £1,655.

Union Threatens More Strikes

The BMA said it may conduct more strikes unless the government enters negotiations.

Dr. Vivek Trivedi, co-chairman of the BMA’s junior doctors committee, said, “Strikes are by nature designed to be disruptive, to put pressure on the government to come to the table to ultimately work towards an end to this dispute.”

He added: “We just want them to come to the table in an honest and meaningful way. But of course if they don’t, then we would reserve the right for further industrial action.”

Trivedi said the union has extended its “olive branch” many times, but the health secretary is “continuing to kick the can down the road.”

He added that a “credible” offer from the government would lead to the union calling off the strike action for the rest of the week.

The main opposition Labour Party also blamed the government for its alleged lack of action.

Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said: “Where is the prime minister and why hasn’t he tried to stop it? Rishi Sunak says he ‘wouldn’t want to get in the middle of’ NHS pay disputes.

“Patients are crying out for leadership, but instead they are getting weakness.”

Call for Talks

The NHS Confederation, which represents NHS trusts, urged the government and the BMA to “get on” with negotiations.

“At the moment it feels as though the BMA and the government are repeating their starting positions—well, that is your starting position, now get into negotiation,” the organisation’s Chief Executive, Matthew Taylor, told ITV’s “Good Morning Britain.”

“We did the same as this with the nurses, with the ambulance workers—we had months where the government wouldn’t negotiate, and then, when the talk started relatively quickly, they got to a deal that’s now being recommended to their workers.

“So both sides are going to end up negotiating—we all know that—so I guess we want to say, ‘Please get on with it.’”

PA Media contributed to this report.