Islington Keep Our NHS Public (IKONP) joined the striking consultants and junior doctors on the picket line at the Whittington Hospital on September 20. It was the first time that junior doctors and consultants had held a joint strike. A three-day joint strike is also taking place from Oct 2 to Oct 5.

Doctors are striking about pay and working conditions in the NHS. They are asking the Government for pay restoration to make up for years of pay settlements that have not kept pace with inflation. The union for doctors, the British Medical Association (BMA) reckons junior doctors have seen a 26% real terms pay cut in the past 15 years. They are asking for something in the region of 35% to make up for these losses. Consultants are asking for an above-inflation pay settlement to make up for their losses over the years.

We know that understaffing is a huge problem for the NHS. A recent survey shows that 4 in 10 doctors say they will leave the the NHS when they can find another job. Poor pay and long hours are major contributors to this talent drain. But the Government is offering a below inflation settlement of 6% to consultants and an average of 8.8% to junior doctors depending on their level. It has refused to come to the negotiating table for over 100 days.

Instead, it has spent in the region of £1 billion managing the strikes, a figures which the BMA points out is what it would cost to settle the junior doctors’ dispute. This will continue to rise until the Government makes a credible offer to end the strike action. “Surely now the Government must understand that it cannot continue down this self-defeating road. We have a mandate for six months more strike action, but they can make it much shorter – even a few days – if the Prime Minister was to simply come to the table,” the BMA says.  

We support the BMA in its call for the Government to come back to the negotiating table and begin to undo the damage that 13 years of Conservative government has done to the NHS.

Learn more about the fight to Keep Or NHS Public on the KeepOurNHSPublic.