Thousands of NHS consultants are on strike across England over a pay dispute and junior doctors will continue their industrial action on Thursday and Friday this week.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said the “regulations would provide a safety net for trusts and an assurance to the public that vital health services will be there when they need them”.
He added: “Doctors who started their hospital training this year are receiving a 10.3% pay increase, with the average junior doctor getting 8.8%, and consultants are receiving a 6% pay rise alongside generous reforms to their pensions, which was the BMA’s (British Medical Association’s) number one ask.
“In the face of ongoing and escalating strike action, we will continue to take steps to protect patient safety and ensure the health service has the staff it needs to operate safely and effectively.”
Dr Vishal Sharma, the chairman of the consultants’ committee told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Tuesday, “This has happened because the NHS staff across across the whole sector are really demoralised, they’re really burnt out and they’ve been forced into taking strike action.”
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