Junior Doctors say patient safety is ‘at the heart’ of why they’re striking
Many routine operations and appointments have been postponed, with the NHS giving priority to emergency care.
Last updated 13th Apr 2023
Junior doctors across Sheffield took to picket lines this morning as part of a four-day strike calling for a 35% increase in their salary.
It is estimated that 350,000 appointments and operations will have to be rescheduled nationally because of the strike, with Health Secretary Steve Barclay accusing the British Medical Association (BMA) of putting patients at "greater risk".
Trainee GP Katie Owen was one of 60 junior doctors picketing outside the Royal Hallamshire this morning. She said:
“We don’t ever want to put patients at risks, but they are already at risk. There are 500 excess deaths a week because we don’t have the numbers and we don’t have the manpower that we need.
“We are striking for a pay rise, but we are also striking to try and make sure that the profession is not broken and therefore we can look after our patients properly. Because patient safety is actually the thing that’s at the heart of all of this” said Dr Owen.
Junior doctors also turned up outside Northern General Hospital with their placards.
The BMA are asking for a full pay restoration amounting to a 35% pay rise, something which the Government have said is unaffordable.
Employment advisor for BMA, Peter Jackson, said,
"The request is not a salary increase but instead a reinstatement of junior doctors pay which has been cut over the last decade.
“They need valuing in the pay they receive and over the last 15 years their pay has been eroded by up to 35.”
Junior doctor strikes are scheduled to continue until 7am on Saturday 15th April. If the government and BMA do not reach an agreement there may be further strikes in the coming weeks.