Why are junior doctors striking and how will the NHS deal with it?

About 50,000 junior doctors England They put down their stethoscopes and picked up placards. government overpaid.

Here, PA news agency answers some of the key questions about strike action.

– Why are junior doctors on strike?

The strike British Medical Association and government. Trade unions claim the UK’s junior doctor’s real wage has been cut by 26% of him since 2008/09 as wage growth has fallen short of inflation.

Unions have demanded full wage restoration, which the government has said equates to a 35% increase, but ministers say this is unattainable.

– What is the actual salary of junior doctors?

The term “junior doctor” is a bit misleading as it covers all doctors below the consultant level. Some doctors NHS For almost ten years it’s still called Junior.

Different wages are paid depending on the level of experience.

The least experienced doctors, known as Foundation Year 1 (FY1) doctors, are paid a base rate of £14.09 per hour (£29,384 per year).

However, doctors receive additional pay for night shifts and weekend work, so it is unlikely that they will get this much.

The most senior junior doctor has a starting salary of £58,398, plus additional payments.

– When will the action take place?

The strike will begin at 7:00 am on Tuesday and will continue until 7:00 am on Saturday.

– What does the NHS say?

Medical services say emergency care is a priority during the strike. This includes services such as A&E, critical care, obstetric services and neonatal care.

The most senior NHS doctors, consultants and other NHS staff who are not on strike will be diverted to cover these areas.

– What should I do if I am sick?

people The NHS advises people to access the care they need in the usual way. Only use 999 and A&E for life-threatening emergencies, NHS 111 online and other services for non-urgent health needs.

The NHS said pharmacies and GPs were largely unaffected by the strike, allowing patients to get appointments and health advice.

――What was the impact of the strike?

This is the second strike in the current conflict. The final strike lasted his three days, resulting in the postponement of some 175,000 appointments and surgeries.

NHS officials believe the latest strike will result in “a significant number” of appointments being rescheduled, with some estimating that the four-day action could result in the postponement of 350,000 appointments or surgeries. There is also

But some patients hide in numbers. For example, a patient who broke a hip over the Easter holiday weekend won’t be able to undergo repair surgery until next week, but will be forced to stay in a hospital bed until then or be “at risk” of losing their place. or newly diagnosed cancer patients who had to start weekly chemotherapy in the week before the strike but did not start treatment to ensure continuity.

– Why does this strike have a bigger impact if it only lasts one day longer than the last strike?

The 96-hour strike is likely to be the most devastating in NHS history, with the length of the strike and the fact that doctors opted to take action shortly after the long bank holiday weekend. It traditionally causes chaos in the NHS. Even without the prospect of a strike.

The strike also overlaps with the Easter school holidays, so many consultant staff who provided assistance during the initial strike will be unable to do so again due to pre-planned vacations and childcare commitments. .

– Will junior doctors leave the picket line for emergencies, as paramedics did in the recent paramedics strike?

Probably not. The BMA has agreed to suspend action in the event of mass casualties or if the NHS confidence is overwhelmed and additional support needs to be sought.

This can only be done if the hospital trust leader contacts the NHS England incident team. Details will then be passed to her BMA. The union will then decide whether the case can only be mitigated by the junior doctor returning to work.

The BMA said it should also post on Twitter, agreeing to these so-called exceptions so “it’s easy for members to see it.”

– Does the public support strike actions?

A new Ipsos poll shows that more than half (54%) of Britons support the strike and 49% of 1,092 British adults surveyed believe junior doctors are paid too little. got it.