England’s NHS bosses have warned that the unusually long strike at one of the traditionally busiest periods for hospitals means one of the toughest starts to the new year
London, Thanasis Gavos
England’s longest-running NHS strike began at 7am local time, with specialist doctors absent from their posts for six days, until 7am on Tuesday.
The managers of the English NHS have warned that the unusually long strike at one of the traditionally busiest times for hospitals means one of the toughest starts to a new year the health system has ever faced.
The British Medical Association, the doctors’ union, counters that it was “forced” to call strike action because the government’s proposal for pay rises for specialists does not cover the real-terms pay cuts the industry has suffered since 2008.
The government last summer offered an 8.8 per cent rise to specialist doctors, as well as a 3 per cent pay rise in the latest round of negotiations.
The proposal is rejected, with a request for a “full restoration” in real terms of wages to 2008 levels, which in essence translates to an increase of around 26%.
The government considers these demands excessive. Health Minister Victoria Atkins declared willing to discuss again with the specialist doctorsbut as long as the strikes stop.
Specialist doctors had gone on strike again for three days just before Christmas. The result then was thousands of postponed appointments, which is expected to happen again now.
With figures up to last September appointments that have had to be postponed due to specialist and specialist doctor strikes in England have exceeded one million.
It is noted that almost 7 million patients are on the NHS England waiting list for appointments, tests and operations.
Source :Skai
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