Doctors in England have returned to work Monday after a five-day strike over pay disputes, even as the country faces a surge in flu cases. The walkout, the 14th since March 2023, ended despite last-minute talks between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the government.
England Doctor Strike Ends, Dispute Continues
BMA members rejected a new government offer intended to address issues with training and job security. Dr. Jack Fletcher, a BMA resident doctor leader, stated that doctors are leaving for other countries where they receive better pay and treatment, according to the British Medical Journal.
Resident doctors – formerly known as junior doctors – are seeking a “genuinely long-term plan” to increase pay and more training opportunities for specialization. The BMA argues that resident doctors’ pay is 20% lower than in 2008, factoring in inflation, despite receiving an average pay rise of 5.4% this year.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed a desire to resolve the dispute by the new year. However, he noted the BMA is “demanding an extra 26% on top of what we’ve already given,” a figure he called unaffordable, but pledged to revisit negotiations in the new year.
Health experts have warned the strike’s impact will be felt well into the new year. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the walkout “dangerous and utterly irresponsible,” particularly given the current flu season.
During the strike, the BMA said it would collaborate with NHS officials to maintain safety in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. While the NHS remains on high alert for flu, the surge in cases appears to be slowing, with just over 3,000 patients hospitalized with the virus in England as of Friday, according to the BBC.
Meanwhile, residential doctors in Scotland are scheduled to strike from January 13 to January 17, marking the first national walkout by NHS workers in Scotland.
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