Medical doctors have been accused of planning a ‘politically motivated’ strike by scheduling it similtaneously the Conservative Party convention.
Junior medics and consultants are set to stroll out collectively for the primary time in a transfer described as a ‘nightmare situation’ and a ‘step too far’ by well being leaders.
Consultants had already introduced plans to picket for 48 hours from September 19, and might be joined by their junior colleagues on September 20. Junior docs will then proceed their strike on September 21 and 22.
Each consultants and junior docs will then strike collectively on October 2, 3 and 4, which coincides with the Tory convention in Manchester, the place the British Medical Affiliation (BMA) union will maintain a rally.
Nickie Aiken, deputy chairman of the Conservative Get together, stated: ‘The newest announcement from the BMA makes it clear their strike plans are politically motivated and don’t have anything to do with affected person care or serving to to scale back ready occasions.’ It comes as an Ipsos ballot reveals that public assist for placing junior docs has fallen by 3 per cent since June to 53 per cent.
Each consultants and junior docs will then strike collectively on October 2, 3 and 4, which coincides with the Tory convention in Manchester, the place the British Medical Affiliation (BMA) union will maintain a rally. Pictured: BMA members stroll all through Downing Avenue throughout a five-day strike final month
Nickie Aiken, (pictured) deputy chairman of the Conservative Get together, stated: ‘The newest announcement from the BMA makes it clear their strike plans are politically motivated and don’t have anything to do with affected person care or serving to to scale back ready occasions’
Simply 38 per cent of the general public again walkouts by consultants, who’re nearly as unpopular as picketing practice drivers, who garner solely 36 per cent. However 57 per cent of the 1,000 adults questioned stated they felt the Authorities was doing a ‘dangerous job’ of negotiating with staff to stop walkouts, up six factors since June.
Dr Vishal Sharma, chairman of the BMA’s consultants committee, yesterday admitted docs had been focusing on the convention ‘as a result of it’s solely the Authorities who can enable us to fulfill and finish this dispute’.
He advised the BBC’s Right this moment programme: ‘It’s the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Well being who’re refusing. They are going to be on the Conservative Get together convention, and that’s why we might be there too.’
Medical doctors will work on a ‘Christmas day cowl’ foundation for the joint industrial motion, which means emergency care will proceed to be offered. However junior docs will stage a full walkout on the times when placing alone, so they may refuse to ship emergency and most cancers care.
Junior docs have staged 19 days of strike motion since March this yr and consultants have staged 4 days. The newest consultants strike – from August 24 to 26 – affected 47,000 appointments.
Industrial motion within the NHS has been ongoing since final December, with the variety of appointments and operations cancelled now exceeding 900,000. Ready lists stand at 7.6million and the BMA has admitted utilizing these sufferers as ‘leverage’ to safe a deal.
Junior docs have staged 19 days of strike motion since March this yr and consultants have staged 4 days. The newest consultants strike – from August 24 to 26 – affected 47,000 appointments. Pictured: The BMA picket line at King’s School Hospital on August 24 this yr
Gideon Skinner, from Ipsos UK, stated: ‘Britain continues to face strike motion as we enter the autumn and there may be continuity in public attitudes in direction of them too.
‘The strikes by railway staff and advisor docs divide opinion, with opposition tending to outweigh assist, however there may be extra sympathy for different placing NHS staff resembling junior docs.’
In July, the Authorities stated junior docs would get pay rises of 6 per cent, and an extra consolidated £1,250 enhance. Hospital consultants may also obtain 6 per cent.
Responding to the escalation of motion, Well being Secretary Steve Barclay accused the medics’ of inflicting ‘callous and calculated disruption’ and stated the pay award was ‘ultimate’.
