London – Thousands of doctors plan a four-day strike England could postpone a quarter million medical appointments next week, a National Health Service the official said on Saturday.
Dr Layla McKay, director of policy at the NHS confederation, said the impact is expected to be far greater than last month’s three-day walkout by doctors at the start of their careers, which led to the postponement of 175,000 appointments and procedures.
“The impact is going to be so significant that it is likely to have an impact on patient safety, and that is a huge concern for every health care leader,” McKay told BBC Radio 4.
The strike planned for Tuesday by so-called junior doctors would be the latest in a wave of disruptive labor actions by public sector employees demanding pay hikes to offset more than 10% inflation. The cost-of-living crisis driven by fast food and rising energy prices has left people struggling to pay the bills as union wages have fallen in real terms over the past decade.
Last week, passport office staff launched a five-week strike and security officers at Heathrow Airport walked off the job for 10 days. Strikes by train and bus drivers, postal workers, ambulance drivers and nurses have wreaked havoc on Britons.
Teachers who recently rejected the increment plan to stage a strike on April 27 and May 2 as unacceptable, causing further inconvenience to parents and students.
The British Medical Association said that junior doctors have lost more than 26% in real pay over the past 15 years. The union said that the strike can be avoided if the government makes a suitable proposal.
The Department of Health and Social Care has insisted that the strike be called off before talks can begin.
Dr Layla McKay, director of policy at the NHS confederation, said the impact is expected to be far greater than last month’s three-day walkout by doctors at the start of their careers, which led to the postponement of 175,000 appointments and procedures.
“The impact is going to be so significant that it is likely to have an impact on patient safety, and that is a huge concern for every health care leader,” McKay told BBC Radio 4.
The strike planned for Tuesday by so-called junior doctors would be the latest in a wave of disruptive labor actions by public sector employees demanding pay hikes to offset more than 10% inflation. The cost-of-living crisis driven by fast food and rising energy prices has left people struggling to pay the bills as union wages have fallen in real terms over the past decade.
Last week, passport office staff launched a five-week strike and security officers at Heathrow Airport walked off the job for 10 days. Strikes by train and bus drivers, postal workers, ambulance drivers and nurses have wreaked havoc on Britons.
Teachers who recently rejected the increment plan to stage a strike on April 27 and May 2 as unacceptable, causing further inconvenience to parents and students.
The British Medical Association said that junior doctors have lost more than 26% in real pay over the past 15 years. The union said that the strike can be avoided if the government makes a suitable proposal.
The Department of Health and Social Care has insisted that the strike be called off before talks can begin.