Some of the doctors in English hospitals begin a new three-day strike on Wednesday to demand better wages in the midst of the crisis of life, a social movement that puts pressure on an already exhausted health service.
“The NHS has prepared well for this new strike, but we know that the number of appointments postponed will have a big impact on routine care…as procedures may take time to reorganize,” said Stephen Powis, head of the NHS service. british health.
The new mobilization should start on Wednesday and last until Saturday morning. In the UK ‘junior doctors’ make up around half of hospital doctors, from young doctors just out of university to professionals with over eight years’ experience.
In April, these doctors had already separated for four days from England, which caused the postponement of about 200,000 non-urgent appointments.
A request for a 35% raise
The BMA union that represents them says these doctors have lost 26% of their pay, in real terms, since 2008, when an austerity cure was imposed on health services.
The union demands a 35% wage increase, which the government opposes. In a statement, Health Minister Steve Barclay called the new strike “disappointing” which will “jeopardize patient safety and our efforts to reduce waiting lists.”
The NHS is in deep crisis, weakened by austerity policies and the consequences of the pandemic. While inflation reduces purchasing power in the UK, nurses, doctors and paramedics have all seen strike action.
According to BMA figures, some 7.42 million people were waiting for treatment in England in April, with just over 3 million patients waiting for more than 18 months.
Source: BFM TV
