News / Strike
Junior doctors join picket line at BRI to begin six days of strike action
A chorus of beeping horns could be heard over the pouring rain as doctors gathered outside the BRI for the first of a six-day walkout.
People took to the picket line outside the hospital on Upper Maudlin Street on Wednesday morning to demand full pay restoration to reverse the “steep decline” to junior doctors’ wages since 2008.
The strike action, organised by the British Medical Association (BMA), is the longest consecutive strike action ever taken in the history of the NHS.
is needed now More than ever
With umbrellas and hoods up against the rain, those on the picket line led chants calling for fair pay while passing drivers beeped their horns in solidarity.
NHS bosses warn the strikes are set to have a significant impact on almost all routine care, with consultants covering as urgent and emergency cases are prioritised.
Dr Fareed Al Qusous, a doctor and BMA representative, told Bristol24/7 the strike action is a last resort for junior doctors.
“No doctor wants to take industrial action, it’s form of last resort,” he said.
“But our pay has been eroded more than other sectors and all we want is full pay restoration. The NHS has always been in perpetual crisis before industrial action was taking place. We have a shortage of doctors, understaffed wards, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine reported an excess of 500 deaths every single week before industrial action was taking place.
“We are unable to retain our doctors – they are being haemorrhaged overseas to Australia, New Zealand, America. And the reason that this is happening is because doctors don’t feel valued. The best metric of value is with full pay restoration.
“All we’re asking is that a doctor who goes through five years of medical school, accumulates £100,000 worth of debt, who gets paid £15.50 per hour to go to £21 per hour.”
A chorus of beeping horns could be heard over the pouring rain as doctors gathered outside the BRI for the first of a six day walkout
The BMA is also calling for:
- The government to agree on a mechanism to prevent any future declines against the cost of living and inflation.
- Reform of the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body process so pay increases can be recommended independently and fairly to safeguard the recruitment and retention of junior doctors.
Junior doctors are calling for full pay restoration to reverse the “steep decline” to their wages since 2008
Speaking ahead of the strike action, NHS national medical director professor sir Stephen Powis said: “This January could be one of the most difficult starts to the year the NHS has ever faced.
“Six consecutive days of industrial action comes at one of our busiest periods – the action will not only have an enormous impact on planned care, but comes on top of a host of seasonal pressures such as covid, flu, and staff absences due to sickness – all of which is impacting on how patients flow through hospitals.
“Our colleagues across the health service are doing their very best for patients every day with extensive preparations in place, but there’s no doubt they are starting 2024 on the back foot – not only will action impact next week, it will continue to have a serious impact in the weeks after as we recover services and deal with additional demand.
“However, I cannot stress enough that people who need care must come forward as they usually would – using 999 and A&E in life threatening emergencies and 111 online for everything else.”
Junior doctors say the strike action is a last resort
The strike action, organised by the British Medical Association, is the longest consecutive strike action ever taken in the history of the NHS
All photos: Ellie Pipe
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