With the NHS bracing for another winter of crisis, senior doctors strike must be avoided
The idea of senior doctors going on strike for two days next month is deeply concerning. The NHS is already bracing for another winter of crisis and unless a resolution is found to the latest dispute it will only make matters worse.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has accused the Government of “ignoring concerns” around the “wellbeing and workload” of doctors.
Strike action could also further stall progress made on hospital waiting lists, an issue that Labour has staked its political reputation on during this Parliament.
While there has been a lot of sympathy in the past for medics, pay has not kept up with inflation for the majority of healthcare workers, repeated industrial action could prove detrimental to the cause of doctors.
The public won’t take kindly to the idea of being held hostage, every time there is a dispute with the Government. Especially given the funds that are being poured into the NHS.
The BMA claims that consultant pay in Ireland can be as much as double that in England. But that is overlooking the current economic situation that the country finds itself in.
No one begrudges doctors being paid well. However, workers in the majority of industries are having to settle for less-than-ideal pay.
Despite this, the Government should at the very least engage with the union to see if strike action can be avoided. The BMA has said that it is willing to call off strike action if Health Secretary Yvette Cooper commits to formal negotiations on pay and working conditions.