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Streeting warns NHS faces challenging few days as doctor strike begins Streeting warns NHS faces challenging few days as doctor strike begins
(32 minutes later)
Health Secretary Wes Streeting says the NHS is facing a challenging few days during the doctor strike as it strives to keep as many services as possible running.Health Secretary Wes Streeting says the NHS is facing a challenging few days during the doctor strike as it strives to keep as many services as possible running.
Speaking after the five-day walkout by resident doctors began on Friday, he said it was not possible to eliminate disruption, but it was being kept to a minimum.Speaking after the five-day walkout by resident doctors began on Friday, he said it was not possible to eliminate disruption, but it was being kept to a minimum.
It came as the British Medical Association agreed a doctor could come off the picket line over the weekend to work at Nottingham City Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit.It came as the British Medical Association agreed a doctor could come off the picket line over the weekend to work at Nottingham City Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit.
In previous strikes, the focus has been on staffing emergency care but this time the NHS wants to keep non-urgent services running, sparking a BMA warning this risks stretching staff too thinly . In previous strikes, the focus has been on staffing emergency care but this time the NHS wants to keep non-urgent services running, sparking a BMA warning this risks stretching staff too thinly.
Why are resident doctors striking and what are they paid?Why are resident doctors striking and what are they paid?
Senior doctors are covering for resident doctors, the new name for junior doctors, who are striking for the 12th time over paySenior doctors are covering for resident doctors, the new name for junior doctors, who are striking for the 12th time over pay
This is only the sixth time the BMA has agreed to let doctors return to work - known as derogation - during the long-running dispute.This is only the sixth time the BMA has agreed to let doctors return to work - known as derogation - during the long-running dispute.
Writing in the Times ahead of the strike, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urged resident doctors not to follow their union down the "damaging road" of strike action. Writing in the Times before the strike, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urged resident doctors not to follow their union down the "damaging road" of strike action.
Despite the efforts being put in by NHS leaders, he said the walkout would cause a "huge loss for the NHS and the country", as he criticised the British Medical Association (BMA) for "rushing" into strikes". Despite the efforts being put in by NHS leaders, he said the walkout would cause a "huge loss for the NHS and the country", as he criticised the British Medical Association (BMA) for "rushing" into strikes.
Sir Keir said the walkouts threatened "to turn back the clock on progress we have made in rebuilding the NHS over the last year".Sir Keir said the walkouts threatened "to turn back the clock on progress we have made in rebuilding the NHS over the last year".
Speaking during a visit to NHS England's headquarters in London - where the NHS is monitoring the impact of the strike across England - Streeting said the government "will not let the BMA hold the country to ransom." Streeting said the government would "not let the BMA hold the country to ransom" and that it was doing "everything we can to minimise the risk to patients".
"We are doing everything we can to minimise the risk to patients, minimise disruption. He conceded that disruption could not be "eliminated" and said he and the prime minister were "angry" on behalf of patients and other NHS staff still working.
"I want to be honest with people what we can't do is eliminate disruption or risk to patients. Previous walkouts have led to mass cancellations of operations, appointments and treatments.
"We know there have been operation, appointments and procedures already cancelled and we know there'll be real challenges over the next five days and that is why the prime minister and I are so angry on behalf of patients and other NHS staff who are working hard to keep the show on the road." More than one million were cancelled during resident doctor strikes in March 2023 and routine care was cut by half at some hospitals.
Previous walkouts have led to mass cancellations of operations, appointments and treatments, with more than one million cancelled during resident doctor strikes which began in March 2023.
Some hospitals were only able to deliver half their normal amount of routine care on strike days.
No official figures have been released yet for the latest strike, but some hospitals are reporting more than 80% of their non-urgent work is being done.No official figures have been released yet for the latest strike, but some hospitals are reporting more than 80% of their non-urgent work is being done.
Doctors in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are not part of the pay dispute.Doctors in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are not part of the pay dispute.
In England, members of the public have been urged to come forward for NHS care during the walkout, and are being asked to attend appointments unless told they are cancelled.In England, members of the public have been urged to come forward for NHS care during the walkout, and are being asked to attend appointments unless told they are cancelled.
GP surgeries will open as usual, and urgent care and A&E will continue to be available, alongside NHS 111, NHS England said.GP surgeries will open as usual, and urgent care and A&E will continue to be available, alongside NHS 111, NHS England said.
The strike is going ahead after talks between the government and BMA broke down on Tuesday.The strike is going ahead after talks between the government and BMA broke down on Tuesday.
Those talks were focused on non-pay issues, such as the cost of exam fees, working conditions and career progression, after Streeting had said pay was not open to negotiation.Those talks were focused on non-pay issues, such as the cost of exam fees, working conditions and career progression, after Streeting had said pay was not open to negotiation.
There are currently no plans for more talks but this could change once the current five days of strike action are over. There are currently no plans for more talks but this could change once the current strike action is over.
Government sources say the ball is very much in the BMA's court and they still will not negotiate on pay.Government sources say the ball is very much in the BMA's court and they still will not negotiate on pay.
The BMA says, despite a 5.4% average pay rise this year following a 22% increase over the previous two years, pay is still down by a fifth since 2008, once inflation is taken into account. The BMA says, despite a 5.4% average pay rise this year following a 22% increase over the previous two years, pay is still down by a fifth since 2008 once inflation is taken into account.
During their first foundation year after finishing their medical degree resident doctors in England now earn a basic salary of £38,831, for an average of 48 hours worked per week. In the second year, this rises to £44,439. By the end of training salaries exceed £73,000. During their first foundation year after finishing a medical degree, resident doctors in England now earn a basic salary of £38,831, for an average of 48 hours worked a week. In the second year, this rises to £44,439. Salaries exceed £73,000 by the end of training.
Medics are often expected to work nightshifts, weekends and longer hours for extra payments. On average these top up their earnings by more than a quarter. Medics are often expected to work nightshifts, weekends and longer hours for extra pay. These top up their earnings by more than a quarter on average.
BMA resident doctor co-leaders Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt said: "Resident doctors are not worth less than they were 17 years ago.BMA resident doctor co-leaders Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt said: "Resident doctors are not worth less than they were 17 years ago.
"Restoring pay remains the simplest and most effective route toward improving our working lives."Restoring pay remains the simplest and most effective route toward improving our working lives.
"Mr Streeting had every opportunity to prevent this strike going ahead, but he chose not to take it." "Mr Streeting had every opportunity to prevent this strike, but he chose not to take it."
Doctors and BMA members began the strike action on Friday across England, including in Newcastle (pictured)Doctors and BMA members began the strike action on Friday across England, including in Newcastle (pictured)
Prof Meghana Pandit, a director at NHS England, said: "It's really important to reduce cancellations, because people have been waiting, sometimes for months for their routine hip replacement or hysterectomy or any appointment, and actually rescheduling the appointments impacts on them and leads to physical and psychological harm."
While the majority of resident doctors work in hospitals, some GP practices and community services could also be affected. Resident doctors represent nearly half the medical workforce.While the majority of resident doctors work in hospitals, some GP practices and community services could also be affected. Resident doctors represent nearly half the medical workforce.
One of those who has been impacted is Hassnain Shahid, 32, from Bradford, whose three-year-old daughter has had her lung surgery on Monday cancelled. Some patients have been affected. Hassnain Shahid, 32, from Bradford, said his three-year-old daughter had her lung surgery on Monday cancelled.
She has a rare lung condition which means that if she catches a cough or cold she could be at serious risk. She has a rare lung condition which means a cold is a serious risk to her health.
"It's been an emotional rollercoaster. It's very frustrating," said Hassnain."It's been an emotional rollercoaster. It's very frustrating," said Hassnain.
The BMA, though, has warned the new approach could cause even greater problems and risk safety.
It has written to NHS England to say that staff who are working could be stretched too thinly. The union said it would be better to significantly reduce non-urgent care as has happened previously.
But Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospitals, said while hospitals were going to be trying to keep services running this would be done within "rigorous safety guidelines". The BMA said that it had written to NHS England to say that staff who work through the strike could be stretched too thinly. The union said it would be better to significantly reduce non-urgent care, as has happened previously.
She said the situation was complicated by the fact that doctors were not obliged to say whether they would be turning up or not. But Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospitals, said hospitals trying to keep services running would do so within "rigorous safety guidelines".
She said the situation was complicated by the fact that doctors were not obliged to say whether they would turn up.
"Nobody will know until they actually turn up for their shifts or not.""Nobody will know until they actually turn up for their shifts or not."
Around two thirds of resident doctors are BMA members.Around two thirds of resident doctors are BMA members.
The Liberal Democrats are calling for an NHS strike resilience plan, using private hospitals for some elective treatments. The Liberal Democrats have called for an NHS strike resilience plan, using private hospitals for some elective treatments.
Lib Dem MP Jess Brown Fuller said: "The government cannot afford to dither and delay. There is too much at stake."Lib Dem MP Jess Brown Fuller said: "The government cannot afford to dither and delay. There is too much at stake."
Conservative shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew said the strikes threatened to drag hospitals into chaos and leave patients "dangerously exposed". The Conservative shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew said the strikes threatened to drag hospitals into chaos and leave patients "dangerously exposed".
"Labour's spineless surrender to union demands last year opened the door to this. He criticised what he called Labour's "spineless surrender to union demands" last year, which he said allowed the BMA to come "back for more".
"They handed out inflation-busing pay rises without reform and now the BMA is back for more." Rory Deighton, of the NHS Confederation, which represents frontline health managers, said: "The impact of these strikes and the distress they will cause patients rests with the BMA."
But Rory Deighton, of the NHS Confederation, which represents frontline health managers, said: "The impact of these strikes and the distress they will cause patients rests with the BMA."