Junior doctors in England intend to strike again in June, according to their union, putting more burden on the state-run health service, the NHS, after salary discussions with the government ended without a settlement on Monday.
The strikes will take place from June 13 to 17, according to the British Medical Association (BMA), which represents about 45,000 junior doctors in England. The BMA has threatened strikes “throughout the summer” if the government does not modify its attitude.
Tens of thousands of junior physicians have already staged two rounds of walkouts this year to seek salary rises that match inflation, which was still in the double digits as of last month. According to the administration, such salary increases would simply exacerbate inflation, causing interest rates and mortgages to rise.
The BMA describes junior doctors as those who are qualified in clinical training and have up to eight years’ experience working as hospital doctors or up to three years in general practice. They work under the supervision of a senior doctor.
Strikes by healthcare workers in the National Health Service (NHS), which have also included walkouts by nurses and ambulance workers, have led to the cancellation of numerous appointments, disrupting patient care at a time when millions are waiting for treatment.
“These will be hugely disruptive for patients and put pressure on other NHS staff,” a government spokesperson said in a statement responding to the latest strike plan, adding they were ready to continue talks if strikes are called off.
The BMA said the government’s latest pay offer of a 5% increase for 2023–24 was not a credible offer since it was “nowhere near addressing pay erosion over the last 15 years.”
