Urged Continuation of NHS Care Amidst Resident Doctors' Strike
Resident doctors in England and Wales are currently engaging in a five-day strike, which began at 7am on July 25 and is set to continue until 7am on July 30. This industrial action, the 12th since March 2023, involves up to 50,000 doctors and is organised by the British Medical Association (BMA) amid an ongoing dispute over pay.
The NHS has been preparing for this latest round of strikes, which now totals nearly ten weeks of cumulative disruption over the past two years. Previous strikes led to the cancellation or rescheduling of an estimated 1.5 million appointments, although the NHS has instructed trusts this time to prioritise keeping routine operations going and only reschedule appointments in exceptional circumstances to safeguard patient safety. Patients are being contacted directly if their appointments are affected; otherwise, they should attend as planned.
Emergency and urgent care services remain operational, with consultants and senior staff stepping in to cover essential services. The public is advised to use NHS 111 online for urgent but non-life-threatening issues, while 999 and A&E departments should be used for serious or life-threatening emergencies as usual.
Primary care, community pharmacies, and dentistry are not directly impacted by the strike. However, there are warnings that emergency departments could see increased pressure and potential patient harm due to reduced staffing. Patients are urged not to delay seeking urgent care.
The strike is the result of a protracted pay dispute, with the BMA arguing that resident doctors’ pay does not reflect their responsibilities, training, or the cost-of-living pressures they face. The union has called for an hourly pay increase to £23.45 ($30.45), highlighting that first-year resident doctors currently earn less than physician assistants in their first year. The government has expressed concern about the impact on NHS services but has not, so far, produced an offer acceptable to the union.
Hospitals and local teams have been preparing for the strike, with plans in place to minimise disruption to patient care and ensure life-saving care continues during the strike. NHS England's national medical director, Professor Meghana Pandit, has advised that some appointments may not go ahead as planned due to the strike.
During the strike, patients should continue to use NHS services in the usual way, dial 999 in an emergency, and use 111 online, their local pharmacist, or GP for non-emergency issues. GP surgeries will remain open as usual during the strike. The public is urged to use 111 online as the first port of call for urgent but not life-threatening issues during the strike.
References: [1] BBC News, (2023). Resident doctors' strike: What you need to know. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-65145739 [2] NHS England, (2023). Resident doctors' strike: Patient advice. [online] Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2023/07/resident-doctors-strike-patient-advice/ [3] The Guardian, (2023). Junior doctors to strike for five days in biggest action of the year. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jul/24/junior-doctors-to-strike-for-five-days-in-biggest-action-of-the-year [4] Sky News, (2023). Junior doctors to strike for five days in pay dispute with government. [online] Available at: https://news.sky.com/story/junior-doctors-to-strike-for-five-days-in-pay-dispute-with-government-12638159
- The ongoing strike by resident doctors in England and Wales, a part of a broader dispute over pay, has prompted calls for policy-and-legislation addressing healthcare workers' pay to reflect their responsibilities, training, and the rising cost-of-living.
- The mental-health implications of the workforce disruption caused by the ongoing strike are concerning, with experts highlighting the necessity of prolonged industrial actions' impact on the general-news landscape, including the well-being of employees and patients.
- On a broader scale, this confrontation between resident doctors and the government illuminates the role of science and technology advancements in healthcare, showcasing the importance of a well-funded and adequately compensated workforce to promote workplace-wellness and maintain the delivery of health-and-wellness services.
- The political fallout from the extended strike and the divergent viewpoints between the British Medical Association and the government provide opportunities for discussions about policy-and-legislation changes to streamline decision-making processes and better protect public services in times of crisis.
