Junior doctors announce four-day strike after nurses accept pay deal
Junior doctors are set to strike again for four days next month, the British Medical Association has confirmed.
Thousands of junior doctors went on strike earlier this month after bidding for a 35% pay increase.
Yesterday BMA leaders met Health Secretary Steve Barclay, who said the pay claim is ‘unaffordable. ‘
They will go on strike from April 11- April 15.
A deal offered to other NHS staff and backed by unions involves a 5% pay rise in April and a one-off payment of at least £1,655.
This is on top of the 4.75% pay rise they received last year.
Nurses, ambulance staff, physios and other workers are being asked to vote on whether to accept that deal.
The three biggest health unions – the Royal College of Nursing, Unison and the GMB – have all recommended their members accept it.
But the BMA has insisted only a 35% increase will do to make up for 15 years of below-inflation rises.
Dr Robert Laurenson, who co-chairs the BMA’s junior doctor committee, said: ‘It is with disappointment and great frustration that we must announce this new industrial action.
‘The government has dragged its feet at every opportunity.
‘It has not presented any credible offer and is refusing to accept that there is any case for pay restoration, describing our central ask as ‘unrealistic’ and ‘unreasonable’.
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