Junior doctors in England have initiated their lengthiest consecutive strike in the seven-decade history of Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) starting Wednesday.
The strike involves doctors below consultant level and will span six days, escalating their ongoing pay dispute with the UK government.
Taking place during one of the NHS’s busiest periods, the strike coincides with heightened pressure from winter respiratory illnesses.
This action swiftly follows a three-day strike held just before Christmas and could potentially affect nearly half of the medical workforce, significantly impacting routine care, according to the NHS’s national medical director, Stephen Powis.
Scheduled to begin at 7:00 am (0700 GMT), the strike is set to conclude at the same time on Tuesday, January 9.
The British Medical Association (BMA) announced this walkout after negotiations with the government reached an impasse in December.
Although the junior doctors were offered a 3.0-percent pay rise in addition to an average 8.8-percent increase earlier in the year, the proposal was rejected due to uneven distribution among different doctor grades and potential pay cuts for many.
This latest strike is part of a series of at least seven strikes by junior doctors since March.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and hospital leaders have criticised this action, highlighting its potential impact on the NHS’s functioning during a crucial period.
Health policy varies across the UK, with administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland independently managing healthcare within their regions.
While junior doctors in Wales are preparing for a 72-hour strike from January 15, their counterparts in Northern Ireland are considering potential strike action. In Scotland, an agreement has been reached between doctors and the Edinburgh government.
The NHS typically experiences a surge in hospital admissions in the weeks following Christmas, partly due to delayed seeking of medical care during the festive season. This increased strain compounds existing challenges, including backlogs from deferred treatment during the Covid pandemic and historical under-funding.
