Streeting condemns 'irresponsible' strikes as doctors stage five-day walkout
As a five-day walkout by resident doctors gets underway, many patients fear they won't get the treatment they need, as ITV News Correspondent Sejal Karia reports
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has insisted the government is doing everything it can to minimise patient harm as thousands of doctors go on strike over pay.
A five-day walkout by resident doctors, formerly junior doctors, in England began on Friday, with members of the British Medical Association (BMA) at picket lines across the country.
Streeting condemned the walkout, branding it "reckless" and "irresponsible", and said the government would not allow the BMA to “hold the country to ransom”.
Asked about the risk of patient harm during a visit to NHS England HQ in London, he said there has been an "extraordinary response" from NHS leaders and frontline staff.
“I’m really proud of the way that NHS leaders and frontline staff have prepared and mobilised to minimise the disruption and minimise the risk of harm to patients," he said.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting urged resident doctors not to strike
“We’ve seen an extraordinary response, including people cancelling their leave, turning up for work, and resident doctors themselves ignoring their union to be there for patients. I’m extremely grateful to all of them.
“What I can’t do today is guarantee that there will be no disruption and that there is no risk of harm to patients.
“We are doing everything we can to minimise it, but the risk is there, and that is why the BMA’s action is so irresponsible."
He said resident doctors had already received a 28.9% pay award from the Labour government in its first year.
“This government will not allow the BMA to hold the country to ransom, and we will continue to make progress on NHS improvement, as we’ve done in our first year," he added.
The BMA has argued that real-terms pay has fallen by around 20% since 2008, and is pushing for full “pay restoration”.
The union took out national newspaper adverts on Friday, saying it wanted to “make clear that while a newly qualified doctor’s assistant is taking home over £24 per hour, a newly qualified doctor with years of medical school experience is on just £18.62 per hour”.
Members of the public have been urged to come forward for NHS care during the walkout, and are being asked to attend appointments unless told they are cancelled.
GP surgeries will open as usual and urgent care and A&E will continue to be available, alongside NHS 111, NHS England said.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer made a last-minute appeal to resident doctors on Friday ahead of the walkout, saying the five-day strike would “cause real damage”.
He urged resident doctors not to follow their union down the "damaging road" of strike action.
BMA Co-chair Dr Melissa Ryan tells ITV News that resident doctors are "frustrated" at having to go out on strike again
“The route the BMA Resident Doctors Committee have chosen will mean everyone loses. My appeal to resident doctors is this: do not follow the BMA leadership down this damaging road. Our NHS and your patients need you,” he wrote in The Times.
He added: “Most people do not support these strikes. They know they will cause real damage."
What do striking doctors say?
Resident doctor Kelly Johnson said Wes Streeting's opposition to the strikes felt like "a slap in the face."
Speaking outside St Thomas' Hospital in London, she said: "It feels like a slap in the face to say we are doing something that is unjust. Just because we're doctors doesn't mean we can't come out and strike and protest for what we think is right.
"Here we are just trying to get what's right for us so we can do our best to serve the public."
While Resident Doctor Shivam Sharma said that doctors' assistants are being paid nearly 50% more than a fully qualified doctor.
"That is ludicrous," Dr Sharma told ITV News.
"All we are asking for is for, is doctors to be paid £22 an hour."
"I think it all needs to improve": Resident doctors tell ITV News about why they are striking
Paediatrics registrar Dr Cristina Costache, speaking outside Leeds General Infirmary, said that deciding to strike was "a difficult decision."
"It's a difficult decision to make always, because I love my job and that's the reason I went into it. My heart is always at work.
"But I also care about my colleagues and my profession."
She said she had experienced a shortage of registrars on the rota, and that roles within the paediatric unit were not being covered.
"The reason that happens is that it's poorly paid. If you're poorly paid, why would you want to come in on your free time when you know you're going to be on nights the next day, and then for three or four nights in a row?"
It comes after Streeting sent a personal letter to NHS resident doctors, saying: “I deeply regret the position we now find ourselves in.”
Streeting said he no longer believes the BMA has engaged in "good faith” in negotiations to prevent Friday's doctors' strike, adding that while he cannot pledge a bigger pay rise, he is committed to progress to improve their working lives.
How will you be affected by the strike?
The public is being urged to continue seeking NHS care during the strike.
NHS England said GP surgeries will remain open, A&E and urgent care will still be available, and routine appointments should go ahead where safe to do so.
Sir Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, told hospital leaders on Thursday to cancel appointments or operations only if patient safety is at risk.
The public is advised to use 111 online first for urgent but not life-threatening concerns.
However, the BMA has said NHS England’s plan to carry on with business as usual poses a risk to patients.
"Doctors are voting with their feet," BMA Co-Chair Dr Melissa Ryan tells ITV News, saying that doctors are leaving the UK due to pay and conditions
Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, said health staff will be working “flat out” to see as many patients as possible during the strike, after NHS England urged hospitals to keep pre-planned care going where they can.
He said: “Striking doctors should think carefully if they are really doing the right thing for patients, for the NHS and for themselves.
“NHS trusts will do everything they can to postpone as few appointments as possible…
“The strike will throttle hard-won progress to cut waiting lists, but NHS trust leaders and staff will be working flat out to see that as many patients as possible get the care they need.”
The BMA said Streeting and his officials have refused to continue talks across the strike days, and the minister’s letter to them “amounted to nothing more than vague promises on non-pay issues”.
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