NHS consultant strikes get underway across the South West
Patients are being warned of "severe delays" as the 48-hour walk out begins
Last updated 24th Aug 2023
The NHS in the South West are expecting "significant disruption" to routine care due to strikes, compounded by staff holidays and sickness and warm weather.
Consultants from the British Medical Association (BMA) are striking for 48-hours from today (Thursday 24 August), in an ongoing row over pay between medics and the Government.
The NHS is advising people to continue to use 999 in life-threatening emergencies and NHS 111 online for other health concerns.
The latest wave of national action comes ahead of the August bank holiday.
Dr Kheelna Bavalia, NHS England South West Medical Director, said: "The NHS is faced with significant disruption to routine care, coming at a time when the South West has an influx of holidaymakers and day-trippers.
"In addition the strikes take place ahead of the bank holiday and we are even busier than usual with residents and visitors getting out and about.
"We are also seeing colleagues take annual leave, and staff sickness within some Trusts, so teams are already stretched.
"We are asking people to continue to use 999 in life-threatening emergencies and NHS 111 online for other health concerns. GP services and pharmacies are also available for patients and can be accessed in the normal way.
"Patients who haven’t been contacted or informed that their planned appointment has been postponed are also urged to attend as normal."
The BMA have announced plans for a three-day walkout later in the year. Medics will strike on October 2, 3 and 4 and are also planning to walk out on September 19 and 20.
Consultants will still provide "Christmas Day cover" during the strikes, which means emergency care will be provided.
The Government has insisted talks on pay are over after it said consultants would receive a 6% rise.
The BMA has condemned the increase as "insulting", claiming consultants have experienced a "35% pay erosion" over the last 14 years.
Dr Vishal Sharma, the BMA consultants committee chairman, said: "No consultant wants to be striking and we head out to picket lines today with heavy hearts.
"We would much rather be inside the hospital seeing our patients. But we cannot sit by and watch passively as we are persistently devalued, undermined and forced to watch colleagues leave - much to the detriment of the NHS and patients.
"By refusing to talk to us - and it's now been 150 days since the Health Secretary met with us - it just shows that the Government is not serious about the NHS, its workforce or patients.
"Our message to the Prime Minister is that we are serious about protecting the consultant workforce and thereby the NHS and patients.
"We are striking today, and will do so again in September and October, but the Prime Minister has the power to avert any further action at all, by getting around the table and presenting us with a credible offer.
"Consultants are clear that they're prepared to take regular action and politicians must be left in no doubt that our dispute will not go away simply because they refuse to negotiate. We will not be ignored."
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay, said: "I am concerned and disappointed that the BMA has gone ahead with this industrial action, which will continue to affect patients and hamper efforts to cut NHS waiting lists.
"I'm aware some consultants cut short their annual leave over the most recent periods of industrial action by the BMA Junior Doctors Committee and I am incredibly grateful to those staff who came forward to help protect patients and services.
"We have accepted the independent pay review body recommendations in full, giving consultants a 6% pay rise, which means average NHS earnings for consultants of £134,000, on top of a pension where generous tax changes mean a consultant can retire at age 65 with a pension each year for life of £78,000 a year. This pay award is final and I urge the BMA to call an end to strikes."
Consultants will take to picket lines from 7.00am on Thursday until 7.00am on Saturday.