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Junior doctors plan nine days of strikes, after talks collapse | |
(32 minutes later) | |
Junior doctors in England are to stage more strikes, in December and January, after rejecting a new pay offer put forward in talks with government. | |
The British Medical Association (BMA) union said the proposal was worth an extra 3% on average this year. This is on top of an 8.8% rise already given. | |
The strikes will be for three days from 07:00 on 20 December and six days from 07:00 on 3 January. | |
The new-year walkout will be the longest in the NHS's history. | |
It coincides with what is traditionally one of the NHS's busiest periods, with emergency services often under huge strain. | |
The breakdown in talks comes after five weeks of negotiations during which industrial action had been suspended. | The breakdown in talks comes after five weeks of negotiations during which industrial action had been suspended. |
The BMA wants a 35% pay uplift, to make up for what it says have been below-inflation rises since 2008. | |
Fresh pay offer could end NHS consultant strikes | Fresh pay offer could end NHS consultant strikes |
Why talk of a UK doctor exodus is premature | Why talk of a UK doctor exodus is premature |
How much do junior doctors really get paid? | How much do junior doctors really get paid? |
The government refused to comment on the detail of the offer, with sources saying there had still been room for movement if the talks had continued. | |
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said it was "disappointing" junior doctor leaders had walked away from negotiations. | |
"The new strikes will result in more disruption for patients and extra pressure on NHS services and staff as we enter a busy winter period, risking patient safety," she added. | "The new strikes will result in more disruption for patients and extra pressure on NHS services and staff as we enter a busy winter period, risking patient safety," she added. |
Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi, who co-chair the BMA junior doctors committee, said: "We have been clear from the outset of these talks that we needed to move at pace - and if we did not have a credible offer, we would be forced to call strikes. | |
"After five weeks of intense talks, the government was unable to present a credible offer on pay by the deadline. | "After five weeks of intense talks, the government was unable to present a credible offer on pay by the deadline. |
"Instead, we were offered an additional 3%, unevenly spread across doctors' grades, which would still amount to pay cuts for many doctors this year." | "Instead, we were offered an additional 3%, unevenly spread across doctors' grades, which would still amount to pay cuts for many doctors this year." |
Sir Julian Hartley, of NHS Providers, which represents health managers, said: "This is the outcome that NHS leaders were dreading." | Sir Julian Hartley, of NHS Providers, which represents health managers, said: "This is the outcome that NHS leaders were dreading." |
Since industrial action started in the NHS, more than a million appointments and treatments have had to be cancelled. | |
There have been walkouts by nurses, ambulance workers and physiotherapists, among others, but those by doctors have been the most disruptive. | |
Pay deal | |
The rise given to junior doctors in April was weighted so those at the start of training - and therefore earning the least money - received the biggest rises. | |
The BMA's announcement of more strikes comes after the union reached a pay deal last week with the government on senior doctors, or consultants, who have also been taking strike action. | |
Consultants will now vote on that deal, which involves an average pay rise of nearly 5% in January on top of the 6% rise they received in April. | |
Other health workers, including nurses, accepted a pay offer of an extra 5% and a one-off sum of at least £1,655, in May. | |
Are you a doctor with a view on the strike? Are you a patient affected? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you a 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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Related Topics | Related Topics |
Doctors | Doctors |
NHS | NHS |
British Medical Association (BMA) | British Medical Association (BMA) |
Strike action | Strike action |