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Physicians

Cancer Surgeries Cancelled Amid Doctors' Strike over Pay Rates

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Cancer patients have had their operations cancelled this week due to the doctors' strike, despite hospitals attempting to maintain planned care. The revelation comes as NHS England chief Sir Jim Mackey claimed that the British Medical Association (BMA) had demanded "extortionate pay rates" for striking doctors to return to work and address patient safety concerns. The BMA has denied these allegations, stating that they do not get enhanced rates for going back to work during the strike. The disagreement has resulted in 58 requests to the BMA for doctors to work at hospitals where patients could be at risk, with 18 being rejected due to the BMA's demands for higher pay rates.

Key Takeaways:

  • 58 requests were made to the BMA for doctors to work at hospitals where patients could be at risk, with 18 being rejected due to the BMA's demands for higher pay rates.
  • The BMA denied allegations that they demanded "extortionate pay rates" for striking doctors to return to work and address patient safety concerns.
  • Cancer patients have had their operations cancelled this week due to the doctors' strike, despite hospitals attempting to maintain planned care.
  • NHS England chief Sir Jim Mackey claimed that previous strikes had shown that "harm was being caused to patients" when emergency care was prioritized over planned operations.
  • The BMA said that resident doctors do not get enhanced payments for returning to work during the strike.
  • The BMA demanded a 29 per cent pay rise to address what they said is a 20.9 per cent erosion of pay since 2008.
  • Health secretary Wes Streeting has insisted that the government will not move on pay, claiming that doctors have received a 28 per cent increase since Labour came into power.

Statistics:

  • 18 requests to the BMA for doctors to work at hospitals where patients could be at risk were rejected due to the BMA's demands for higher pay rates.
  • 58 requests were made to the BMA for doctors to work at hospitals where patients could be at risk.
  • 29 per cent: the pay rise demanded by the BMA to address what they said is a 20.9 per cent erosion of pay since 2008.
  • 28 per cent: the increase in pay for doctors since Labour came into power.
  • 5.4 per cent: the pay increase offer for 2025-26 rejected by the BMA.
  • £188 per hour: the suggested 2025 pay rate for consultants for a weekday daytime shift.
  • £250: the suggested 2025 pay rate for consultants for a weekend day shift or weekday evening shift.
  • £313: the suggested 2025 pay rate for consultants for an overnight shift.

Sources:

  • The Independent
  • NHS England
  • British Medical Association (BMA)
  • The Guardian
  • BBC News

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