NHS facing longest strike in history as junior doctors walk out
The NHS is braced for the longest strike in its history as junior doctors walk out this week amid a stand-off with the Tories.
The six-day industrial action is planned to begin at 7am tomorrow and end at 7am next Tuesday, amounting to 144 consecutive hours. NHS England’s medical director warned last night the service may have to deal with “one of the most difficult starts to the year” ever.
Prof Sir Stephen Powis said: “The action will not only have an enormous impact on planned care, but comes on top of a host of seasonal pressures such as Covid, flu, and staff absences due to sickness, all of which is impacting on how patients flow through hospitals.
“Not only will action impact next week, it will continue to have a serious impact in the weeks after as we recover services and deal with additional demand.” NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor suggested hopes of the strike being cancelled were fading and called for Health Secretary Victoria Atkins to intervene.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins outside the BBC Broadcasting House in London (PA)He told BBC News: “Unfortunately, it feels like there is a stand-off, which is the Government is refusing to enter negotiations unless the junior doctors call off the strike action and the junior doctors are refusing to call off strike action unless the Government commits to investing more money and that is a pity. Even at this late stage, an intervention could make a difference.”
Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade
The British Medical Association argues their members’ pay has slumped 26% in 15 years. A Government spokesman said: “We urge the BMA junior doctors to call off their strikes and come back to the negotiating table so we can find a fair and reasonable solution, and so we can all get back to focusing on patients and their care.”
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