NHS bosses voice 'extreme concern' as junior doctors plan strikes over Christmas

06 December 2023 , 20:20

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Junior doctors in Birmingham this October (Image: PA)

NHS England bosses have expressed extreme concerns over planned strikes by junior doctors during Christmas.

The NHS is already battling a record 7.8 million appointment backlog with some of the longest waiting times in the service’s history. Walkouts will run from December 20 to December 23 and from January 3 to January 9, after five weeks of talks with the British Medical Association failed to break the deadlock.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director for the NHS in England, said: “It is extremely concerning the health service is set to face another escalation in ­industrial action. The longest consecutive strike in NHS history is now planned during one of the most challenging periods of the year.

BMA junior doctors’ committee co-chairman Dr Robert Laurenson (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

“Staff across the country have worked incredibly hard to ensure urgent and life-saving care has continued during what is now a full calendar year of strike action, while also ­delivering progress on our recovery plans. As the NHS continues to prepare for what is likely to be another very challenging winter, we will prepare to mitigate the impact of the latest strikes, once more ­prioritising urgent and emergency care to protect patient safety and ensure those in life-saving emergencies can receive the best possible care.”

The BMA announced the walkouts, the second of which will be the longest strike by doctors in NHS history, after refusing an extra 3% average pay. BMA junior doctors’ committee co-chairman Dr Robert Laurenson told LBC radio: “The 3% offer was completely insufficient to actually begin to address 26% pay erosion that doctors have faced over the last 15 years.

Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade

“All we’re looking for is for that 26% to be restored so we go back to a 0% change from 2008, and that just looks like a doctor starting on about £21 an hour.” On Tuesday Health ­Secretary Victoria Atkins said the Government would “immediately look to come back to the table” if the strikes were called off.

Martin Bagot