16 July 2023 , 23:01
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Hospital consultants today announced two more strike dates as they prepare to walk out this week.
Consultants in England, who go on strike on Thursday and Friday, also plan industrial action on August 24 and 25 in a deepening row over pay. The British Medical Association blasted a “derisory, sub-inflation pay award of less than 6% for consultants”.
It wants an-above inflation pay rise to help make up for real-terms cuts since 2010. Dr Vishal Sharma, chairman of the BMA’s consultants committee, said: “Consultants have always been clear that industrial action is a last resort but in the face of a Government intent on devaluing consultants’ expertise and their lack of regard for the impact this is having on the NHS, we have been left with no choice.
“We’ve had our pay cut year after year, put our lives on the line during a pandemic and now are managing a record backlog of care. The Prime Minister says cutting these waiting lists is a priority but then undermines his own policy by showing he doesn’t value those charged with delivering it.
Striking junior doctors from British Medical Association take part in a rally in Parliament Square, Westminster (PA)“Cutting pay once again shows the Government’s complete disregard for the profession.”
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The Mirror told this month how almost 650,000 appointments and operations have been postponed due to the wave of strikes which have hit the NHS in England in the run up to its 75th anniversary.
The unprecedented strikes have caused widespread disruption across the NHS since December 2022. The first mass walkout of nurses in history took place in mid December - with ambulance workers, physiotherapists and other health workers following suit in subsequent weeks.
In March this year, junior doctors began the first in a wave of strikes, heaping further disruption on the health service. Some 648,000 appointments, procedures and operations have been postponed as a result of the strikes in England.
Junior doctors in England are continuing with a five-day strike which ends on Tuesday.
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This story was updated after initially reporting that the BMA was demanding a pay rise of 35% for consultants. The correct position is that they want a pay rise above inflation