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Junior doctor strike: Union's pay demands 'unrealistic', says Steve Barclay Junior doctor strike: Union's pay demands unrealistic, says Steve Barclay
(about 1 hour later)
Health Secretary Steve Barclay says next week's strike "threatens to cause significantly more disruption" than previous walkoutsHealth Secretary Steve Barclay says next week's strike "threatens to cause significantly more disruption" than previous walkouts
The union representing junior doctors appears "intent on maintaining a militant stance" which "hampers serious talks over pay", the health secretary has said. The junior doctors' union appears "intent on maintaining a militant stance" which "hampers serious talks over pay", the health secretary says.
Writing in The Telegraph, Steve Barclay said pay demands by the British Medical Association (BMA) were "unrealistic".Writing in The Telegraph, Steve Barclay said pay demands by the British Medical Association (BMA) were "unrealistic".
The union is calling for a 35% pay rise to make up for 15 years of below-inflation wage rises.
Junior doctors in England are set to stage a four-day strike from Tuesday.Junior doctors in England are set to stage a four-day strike from Tuesday.
It will take place from 07:00 BST on Tuesday, lasting until 07:00 BST on Saturday. The BMA wants a 35% pay rise to make up for 15 years of below-inflation wage rises, It says falling pay has caused a recruitment and retention crisis.
The BMA junior doctors committee says real terms pay has fallen by 26.1% when compared to pre-austerity levels of 2008. The strike will take place from 07:00 BST on Tuesday until 07:00 BST on Saturday.
Mr Barclay said he could see "no prospect of getting into serious and constructive talks" unless the strike action was cancelled and the BMA changed its pay demands. The NHS national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, is warning that the strike will cause "unparalleled levels of disruption" as it is longer than previous strikes and comes after the bank holiday when many staff are "taking much-needed holiday".
Junior doctors are below consultant level and may have many years of experience in a hospital setting or general practice. Up to quarter of a million operations and appointments could be postponed because of it, the NHS Confederation - the body which represents health service trusts - has warned, and health bosses are more concerned about this than they have been about any other strike.
The British Medical Association has refused to exempt any services but says it has plans to protect patients.
'Out of step'
Mr Barclay said the walkout - just after the bank holiday and which "coincides with school holidays, Ramadan and Passover", has been timed to "cause maximum disruption".
Mr Barclay said pay demands by junior doctors were "out of step with pay settlements in other parts of the public sector" and claimed some doctors could receive an extra £20,000 a year if wage demands were met.Mr Barclay said pay demands by junior doctors were "out of step with pay settlements in other parts of the public sector" and claimed some doctors could receive an extra £20,000 a year if wage demands were met.
The health secretary also said he valued "the important work these doctors do every day" and he wanted "to see a fair deal that increases their pay". He said he wanted to "see a fair deal that increases their pay" but could see "no prospect of getting into serious and constructive talks" unless the strike action was cancelled and the BMA changed its pay demands.
In his article, Mr Barclay wrote that the four-day strike "threatens to cause significantly more disruption than the previous NHS walkouts we have seen recently". Junior doctors represent more than 40% of the medical workforce and include those fresh out of university through to experienced medics with more than 10 years of experience. Around two-thirds are BMA members.
"It is deeply disappointing that this industrial action has been timed by the BMA's junior doctors' committee to cause maximum disruption to both patients and other NHS staff," he said.
"Not only does the 96-hour walkout come straight after the Easter weekend, but it is also longer than previous walkouts. And it coincides with school holidays, Ramadan and Passover."
He said while contingency plans were being put in place, "significant disruption in the coming days is inevitable".
Health bosses have estimated that up to a quarter of a million operations and appointments could be postponed as a result of the strike.
In a ballot issued in February, 98% of eligible BMA members backed strike action, on a turnout of 77%In a ballot issued in February, 98% of eligible BMA members backed strike action, on a turnout of 77%
The BMA represents 173,000 members across all parts of the United Kingdom, and saw a recent surge in membership due to more junior doctors joining. Deputy chair of the BMA junior doctors committee Dr Mike Greenhalgh said falling pay had caused "a real recruitment and retention crisis" in the health service.
Speaking to the BBC, deputy chair of the BMA junior doctors committee Dr Mike Greenhalgh said falling pay had caused "a real recruitment and retention crisis" in the health service. He told the BBC on Saturday: "It's hard to negotiate when only one side is doing it, and we're not getting anything back from the government on that front."
He added: "We're happy to meet at any time. We would still meet [Mr Barclays] over the bank holiday weekend before the industrial action next week.
"And if he was to bring a credible offer to us, it could still, even at this late stage, avert action."
Speaking previously, Dr Vivek Trivedi, co-director of the junior doctors' committee at the BMA, said the union wanted to be sure Mr Barclay "is serious about pay erosion" - but added he was yet to put a credible offer on the table.
"All we're asking for is a credible offer that shows us he's serious, that we can start a path of negotiations to try to address the real-terms pay cut," he said.
During last month's strike, hospitals drafted in consultants to provide cover but it is estimated a quarter of them are on leave due to the Easter holidays.During last month's strike, hospitals drafted in consultants to provide cover but it is estimated a quarter of them are on leave due to the Easter holidays.
The BMA says it will not exempt any services but that there are plans to protect patients, which could involve pulling junior doctors off the picket line if individual hospitals report lives are in immediate danger.The BMA says it will not exempt any services but that there are plans to protect patients, which could involve pulling junior doctors off the picket line if individual hospitals report lives are in immediate danger.
Meanwhile, the NHS's national medical director warned that the strikes would create "unparalleled levels of disruption".
"This time the action immediately follows a four-day bank holiday weekend, which is already difficult as many staff are taking much-needed holiday," said Professor Sir Stephen Powis.
"It will be more extensive than ever before with hospitals facing nearly 100 hours without up to half of the NHS medical workforce."
The Department of Health and Social Care has said the government is working with NHS England to put contingency plans in place to protect patient safety during the strike.The Department of Health and Social Care has said the government is working with NHS England to put contingency plans in place to protect patient safety during the strike.
"The NHS will prioritise resources to protect emergency treatment, critical care, maternity and neonatal care, and trauma," a spokesman said."The NHS will prioritise resources to protect emergency treatment, critical care, maternity and neonatal care, and trauma," a spokesman said.
Ahead of the strikes starting on Tuesday, Mr Barclay had been urged to meet union representatives over the bank holiday weekend to try to resolve the issue.
Speaking previously, Dr Vivek Trivedi, co-director of the junior doctors' committee at the BMA, said the union wanted to be sure Mr Barclay "is serious about pay erosion" - but added he is yet to put a credible offer on the table.
"All we're asking for is a credible offer that shows us he's serious, that we can start a path of negotiations to try to address the real-terms pay cut," he said.
Are you a junior doctor with a view on the strike? Are you a patient affected? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you a junior doctor with a view on the strike? Are you a patient affected? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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