Resident doctors vote to strike over pay

Resident doctors in England have voted to strike and will take to the picket lines over an ongoing row of pay and the NHS could face six months of disruption.

The British Medial Association (BMA) said there was a turnout of 55% and around 90% of voting resident doctors once known as junior doctors said they will now walkout.

The BMA said that doctors are wanting a pay rise of 29.2% to reverse the “pay erosion” they have been hit with since 2008 to 2009.

The union is urging the government to come “forward as soon as possible with a credible path to pay restoration” as there is “still time to avert strike action.”

BMA resident doctors committee co-chairs Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt said in a statement: “Doctors have spoken and spoken clearly: they won’t accept that they are worth a fifth less than they were in 2008.

“Our pay may have declined but our will to fight remains strong.

“We now find ourselves at a crucial crossroads. Last year when in opposition Mr Streeting said that the solution to strikes was to talk to resident doctors – it was as true then as it is now.

“He made a point of acting quickly to grasp the issue and negotiate a solution.

“Only a few weeks ago he again said he wanted to get back round the table with us.

“Now we will see if he can once again make the right decision – he needs to come forward as soon as possible with a credible path to pay restoration.”

They added: “All we need is a credible pay offer and nobody need strike.

“Doctors don’t take industrial action lightly – but they know it is preferable to watching their profession wither away.

“The next move is the Government’s. Will it repeat the mistakes of its predecessor? Or will it do the right thing and negotiate a path to full pay restoration and the restoration of doctors’ confidence in our profession’s future?”

Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers – which is part of the NHS Confederation, said: “Resident doctors voting for more industrial action after the largest series of pay awards in the public sector is a troubling development.

“Further strikes are the last thing health leaders wanted and could result in tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of operations and procedures being delayed or cancelled, leaving patients in pain or discomfort.”

He added: “Our members will continue to try to provide the best care possible and maintain patient safety during any industrial action.

“But it’s vital that the BMA also reflect on the way in which their last strikes were conducted to see if they can find better responses to requests for help.”