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Physicians

NHS Strikes: Resident Doctors Vow to Press Ahead with Demands for 29% Pay Rise

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A bitter standoff between the British Medical Association (BMA) and health secretary Wes Streeting has deepened, with Streeting warning that a wave of strikes by resident doctors will lead to devastating consequences for patients and jeopardise the NHS's long-term recovery. Despite this, the BMA has vowed to press ahead with its demands for a 29% pay rise, citing support from the vast majority of its 53,000 members, though only one-third of NHS workers actually voted in favour of strikes.

Key Takeaways:

  • The BMA has announced six months of strike action by its 53,000 members in a dispute over a 29% pay rise, despite health secretary Wes Streeting warning that this will lead to mass patient suffering and tens of thousands of cancellations.
  • The health secretary has made it clear that a pay rise is off the table, citing the highest pay award across the entire public sector and the need for fairness to other NHS workers.
  • Streeting has also emphasized that walkouts will be "a disaster for their members and a disaster for patients", just as the NHS is finally starting to recover.
  • The union has expected to name strike dates, although it is not clear when this will happen.
  • Turnout for the strike ballot was 55%, with 90% of those voting in favour of industrial action.
  • This means that only one third of the 77,000 working in the NHS cast a ballot in favour of strikes.

Statistics:

  • 53,000 BMA members have voted in favour of six months of strike action.
  • 90% of those who voted in the strike ballot supported industrial action.
  • 55% turnout for the strike ballot, surpassing the 50% legal threshold.
  • 77,000 workers are employed in the NHS.
  • Resource: The health secretary claims that only one-third (26,333-29,100) of the NHS workforce cast a ballot in favour of strikes.

Sources:

  • Wes Streeting, Health Secretary. (2023, March 7). Tweet. The public will not forgive strike action in these circumstances and neither will I.
  • British Medical Association (BMA). (2023). Strike Ballot Results.

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