Tens of thousands of patients in England suffering because of the six-day strike by junior doctors, the longest industrial action in the 75-year history of the National Health Service (NHS).
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As the strike began on Wednesday, concerns by health charities regarding risks to patient safety, addressing the anxiety caused by postponed appointments, particularly for individuals dealing with conditions such as cancer and vision problems.
Healthcare organizations, including the Patients Association, expressed worries about patient safety due to insufficient staffing levels during the strike.
The association called upon government ministers and the British Medical Association (BMA) to seek mediation and resolve the dispute over junior doctors’ pay, which reached an impasse in negotiations before Christmas.
NHS England’s National Medical Director, Prof Sir Stephen Powis, said the impact of the 13 month long series of strikes by doctors, nurses, and other staff on the healthcare system.
Various health charities, including the Royal National Institute of Blind People, expressed concerns over the distress caused to patients whose appointments were canceled or rescheduled without proper communication methods, leaving blind and partially sighted individuals unaware of the changes.
The Patients Association addressed that strikes create additional barriers for patients who already struggle to access timely healthcare.
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Macmillan Cancer Support’s Director of Advocacy, Sarah Ruane, addressed the anxiety faced by cancer patients as a result of the industrial action.
The BMA’s junior doctors’ committee, seeking a 35% pay rise for full pay restoration after a 26% real-terms pay cut since 2008-09, called on Health Secretary Victoria Atkins to present a credible offer to end the strikes.
The NHS Confederation’s Chief Executive, Matthew Taylor, expressed the hospital leaders facing a sense of trepidation at the beginning of 2024, especially with the strikes coinciding with increased winter pressures.
Atkins urged the BMA to call off the strikes, addressing the impact on patients and the NHS, which has already rescheduled over 1.2 million appointments due to previous industrial actions.
The British Medical Association (BMA) announced a six-day strike by junior doctors in England, commencing at 7 am on January 3, in what could be the longest stoppage in the history of the NHS.
Dr. Vivek Trivedi, co-chair of the BMA Junior Doctors Committee, stressed the need for a credible pay offer from the government to halt the strike and resume negotiations.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins responded, urging the BMA to call off the strikes and return to the negotiating table for a fair resolution.
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The strikes, routine hospital services, have concerns about patient safety and the NHS’s ability to clear the backlog of appointments.
The government has offered an average 8.8% pay rise for 2023-24, with an additional 3% on the table. However, the BMA’s junior doctors’ committee rejects this offer, advocating for a 35% pay increase to address below-inflation pay rises since 2008.
Dr. Robert Laurenson and Dr. Vivek Trevedi, co-chairs of the committee, urged the government to present a credible offer to end the strikes and avoid disruption to patient care.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins urged the BMA to call off the strike, stating that January is the busiest time for the NHS.
Atkins stressed the strikes would have on patients and saying that over 1.2 million appointments had already been rescheduled due to previous industrial actions.
Dr Vivek Trivedi, co-chair of the BMA Junior Doctors Committee, conveyed the willingness of junior doctors to resume talks if the government presented a credible pay offer.
Trivedi addressed that the current offer does not adequately address the pay erosion experienced by junior doctors over the years.
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