Junior doctors across the North West join national strike

It's the 11th time they've taken action in the dispute over pay

Doctor
Author: Andy MarshPublished 27th Jun 2024

Junior doctors across the North West are joining others around the country in striking for an 11th time today.

Health bosses say the warm weather's already putting some parts of the NHS under additional strain and the action adds to the pressure.

Only emergency care will be prioritised between now and Tuesday.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said it stands ready to talk and the union has already had some discussions with the Labour Party.

Junior doctors said Labour's shadow health secretary Wes Streeting has promised talks on July 5 if the party wins the General Election.

The BMA's junior doctors committee said Mr Streeting's remark that raising pay would be a "journey and not an event" align with their pay restoration goals.

Junior doctors in England have said their pay has been cut by more than a quarter over the last 15 years and have called for a 35% pay uplift.

But Mr Streeting has said he will not meet the 35% ask, saying that if he gave in to the demand then "any trade union worth their salt" would come back the following year with the same request.

He has said there is "space for a discussion" on pay, as well as negotiations on how to improve working conditions for medics in training.

NHS leaders have raised concerns about the "major disruption" the strike will cause in the aftermath of a heatwave which prompted a yellow "heat-health alert" across much of the country.

Junior doctors have said they will call off the strike if Prime Minister Rishi Sunak makes a credible commitment to restore their pay.

First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Hits Radio app.