Introduction to the NHS Dispute
The conversations between the health secretary and the British Medical Association (BMA) will take place next week to avert strike actions in the English NHS. Local doctors announced at the beginning of this week that from July 25th to July 30th, they would assume five consecutive days for a dispute over the payment with the government.
Background of the Dispute
The government insisted that it cannot improve its offer for this year by 5.4%. In a joint explanation, the co-chair of the BMA Resident Doctors Committee said that they were "happy to continue the discussions to find a solution". They said: "We are glad that the health secretary has taken over our offer, and we look forward to constructive discussions in the hope that we can make progress that are sufficient to support the suspension of the planned strike."
Current Salary and Demands
After an increase of 22% in the past two years, the local doctors have received an average salary increase of 5.4% for this financial year – which will be included in payment packages from August. They argue that the payment is still 20% lower than in 2008 and the government asked to determine a way to restore its value. They believe that this year’s increase by 5.4% does not bring you down this path far enough.
Government’s Stance
Sources of the Ministry of Health informed that the health secretary agrees to improve working conditions for local doctors, but he will not move to salaries. After the BMA’s announcement, the health secretary called the strike "unnecessary and unreasonable" and added: "The NHS hangs on a thread – why do you threaten to pull it around everything in the world?" He said the government was "ready and ready" to work with the BMA, but every further strike campaign was a disaster for the patients and the progress in reducing waiting lists in England.
Public Support and Previous Strikes
It comes first as a fresh survey suggests that public support for the industrial lawsuit of local doctors has dropped from 52% to 26% since June last year when they last strike. Local doctors took part in 11 separate strikes in 2023 and 2024. In order to end the previous strikes last year, the government awarded a returned increase worth 22% over two years. The campaign in England will not influence in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, which are directly negotiating with their decentralized governments.
Doctor’s Salaries
The basic salaries of doctors in England are between 37,000 and 70,000 GBP per year for a 40-hour week, depending on the experience, additional payments for working night shift and weekends. This does not include the latest 5.4% average Pay Award for this year, which will be paid out in wage packages from August.
