UK Junior Doctors Strike: BMC calls for credible offer to end strike

London: An Indian-origin medic and co-chair of the medical association's junior doctors' panel on Wednesday called on the UK government to get around the negotiating table as his colleagues began a six-day strike, the longest in Britain's health service history. 

Dr Vivek Trivedi, co-chair of the British Medical Association Junior Doctors Committee, told the BBC that ministers must come forward with a credible pay offer so they can call off the strikes.

The National Health Service relies on thousands of junior doctors or qualified medical professionals undergoing their specialist training in hospitals, who have been taking industrial action since last year demanding better pay in line with inflation.

The talks between junior doctors and the UK government broke down last month as they rejected an offer of a pay rise averaging 3 per cent, on top of an average of nearly 9 per cent junior doctors received in April last year.

The BMA has been asking for an extra 35 per cent to make up for what they say are below-inflation pay rises dating back to 2008.

"We're not asking for any uplift or pay restoration to happen overnight. We're not even saying it has to happen in one year. We are very happy to look over deals that would span several years - but what we need to do is to start a way towards that and not further than pay erosion. That 3 per cent pay uplift would still have amounted to pay cuts for many doctors this year," added Trivedi.

However, UK Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said junior doctors must call off their strike before she can get back to the negotiating table.

"I urge the BMA Junior Doctors Committee to call off their strikes and come back to the negotiating table so we can find a fair and reasonable solution to end the strikes once and for all," Atkins said in a statement.

"January is typically the busiest time of the year for the NHS and these strikes will have a serious impact on patients across the country. Over 1.2 million appointments have already been rescheduled since industrial action began, including over 88,000 during last month's strikes. The NHS has again put in place robust contingency plans to protect patient safety and it is vital anyone who needs medical help continues to come forward," she said.

NHS National Medical Director Professor Sir Stephen Powis also described January as one of the busiest and most challenging times for the health service, as a result of the winter pressures of flu and COVID combined.

"This latest round of strike action will not only have an impact on this week but will have an ongoing effect on the weeks and months ahead, as we struggle to recover services and cope with heavy demand," said Powis.

NHS England is advising patients in a life-threatening emergency to call 999 and for everything else to use the 111 medical helpline.