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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Four-day junior doctor strike set for April | Four-day junior doctor strike set for April |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Junior doctors are to stage a four-day walkout in April in their fight to get a 35% pay rise in England. | Junior doctors are to stage a four-day walkout in April in their fight to get a 35% pay rise in England. |
| Members of the British Medical Association (BMA) will take strike action from 11 April to 15 April. | |
| It comes after BMA leaders met Health Secretary Steve Barclay on Wednesday. | It comes after BMA leaders met Health Secretary Steve Barclay on Wednesday. |
| Mr Barclay has said the pay claim is "unaffordable". A deal offered to other NHS staff and backed by unions involves a 5% pay rise in April and a one-off payment of at least £1,655. | Mr Barclay has said the pay claim is "unaffordable". A deal offered to other NHS staff and backed by unions involves a 5% pay rise in April and a one-off payment of at least £1,655. |
| This is on top of the 4.75% pay rise they received last year. | This is on top of the 4.75% pay rise they received last year. |
| Nurses, ambulance staff, physios and other workers are being asked to vote on whether to accept that deal. | Nurses, ambulance staff, physios and other workers are being asked to vote on whether to accept that deal. |
| The three biggest health unions - the Royal College of Nursing, Unison and the GMB - have all recommended their members accept it. | The three biggest health unions - the Royal College of Nursing, Unison and the GMB - have all recommended their members accept it. |
| But the BMA has insisted only a 35% increase will do to make up for 15 years of below-inflation rises. | But the BMA has insisted only a 35% increase will do to make up for 15 years of below-inflation rises. |
| Why are doctors demanding the biggest pay rise? | Why are doctors demanding the biggest pay rise? |
| The four-day strikes would follow the three-day walkout that took place last week. | |
| Dr Robert Laurenson, who co-chairs the BMA's junior doctor committee, said: "It is with disappointment and great frustration that we must announce this new industrial action. | Dr Robert Laurenson, who co-chairs the BMA's junior doctor committee, said: "It is with disappointment and great frustration that we must announce this new industrial action. |
| "The government has dragged its feet at every opportunity. | "The government has dragged its feet at every opportunity. |
| "It has not presented any credible offer and is refusing to accept that there is any case for pay restoration, describing our central ask as 'unrealistic' and 'unreasonable'." | "It has not presented any credible offer and is refusing to accept that there is any case for pay restoration, describing our central ask as 'unrealistic' and 'unreasonable'." |
| Government sources said the BMA has been offered formal pay talks on the same basis as the other unions and that ministers were willing to discuss a pay rise from April and a one-off payment for the past year. | |
| Last week's walkout led to the cancellation of 175,000 treatments and appointments, with consultants brought in to provide cover in emergency care. | Last week's walkout led to the cancellation of 175,000 treatments and appointments, with consultants brought in to provide cover in emergency care. |
| Hospitals bosses said the fallout from the strike would last weeks given the huge number of bookings that have to be rescheduled. | Hospitals bosses said the fallout from the strike would last weeks given the huge number of bookings that have to be rescheduled. |
| The new walkout comes directly after the Easter weekend, which tends to be a busy period for the NHS. | |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Doctors | Doctors |
| NHS | NHS |
| Strike action | Strike action |