Thousands of doctors in the UK have begun a five-day strike, despite an appeal from Prime Minister Keir Starmer to reconsider. The strike comes after negotiations between the government and the British Medical Association (BMA) failed to reach a deal on a new pay increase. The doctors, who had previously accepted a 22.3% pay rise over two years, are now demanding further increases to reverse “pay erosion” since 2008.
The junior doctors, represented by the BMA, argue that their pay has eroded by more than 21% in real terms over the past two decades. “We’re not working 21% less hard, so why should our pay suffer?” said Melissa Ryan and Ross Nieuwoudt, co-chairs of the BMA’s resident doctors committee. The doctors feel that they have “no choice” but to strike again to push for a better pay deal.
Prime Minister Starmer appealed to the doctors to reverse their decision, warning that the strike would “cause real damage” to patients and the National Health Service (NHS). “Lives will be blighted by this decision,” Starmer said, urging the doctors not to “follow” their union down this “damaging road.” Health Minister Wes Streeting also appealed to the doctors, saying that the government “cannot afford to go further on pay this year.”
The strike is expected to disrupt hospital services, with tens of thousands of appointments potentially cancelled or delayed. This comes as the NHS is already struggling to cope with demand and staffing shortages. The BMA is seeking a significant pay increase for junior doctors, who feel that their salaries have not kept pace with inflation.
The dispute between the government and the doctors is part of a broader public sector pay debate, with other workers, including teachers and train drivers, also seeking better pay deals. The previous Conservative government resisted the BMA’s demands for a 35% “pay restoration” to reflect real-term inflation over the last decade. The current government has offered some pay increases, but the doctors feel that more needs to be done to address their concerns.
