HOSPITAL DOCTORS STRIKE AS UK GOVERNMENT REFUSES PAY TALKS Junior doctors in England ramp up their industrial action with six days strike
Junior doctors in England ramped up their industrial action yesterday (Wednesday, 20th December), beginning the first walk-out of their biggest strike yet, which hospitals warn could threaten emergency care provision at one of the busiest times of the year.
The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents around 50,000 junior doctors, said its members will walk out on Wednesday for three days, and again for six days from Jan. 3 to 9, in a long-running dispute over pay.
Junior doctors abandoned negotiations with the government after being offered a pay rise of between 8% and 10%. They are seeking a 35% improvement which they say is necessary to cover the impact of inflation over several years.
British health minister Victoria Atkins said significant contingency measures had been taken to reduce disruption, and added that the door remained open to the BMA to return to negotiations.
Hospital bosses said the six-day strike in January would be the longest in the history of Britain’s National Health Service, and added that the timing of the two walk-outs in quick succession over the Christmas break made them particularly difficult.
