UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Just one in three people support upcoming doctor strikes, as Wes Streeting faces pressure to end the dispute amid warnings of lasting damage to public trust.
A new YouGov poll reveals just 33% of the public support doctors’ upcoming five-day strike, as thousands of patients face cancelled operations and appointments.
YouGov’s poll on public support for doctor strikes
According to a YouGov poll, around 49% of the public oppose the planned industrial action by the British Medical Association.
The data shows support has dropped since the last doctors’ strike before last year’s election, when 50% supported it and 39% were against it.
What did Alan Johnson say about the BMA’s strike plans?
Alan Johnson, health secretary for two years under Tony Blair and former union head, said,
“This has all the signs of the BMA leading their troops into a battle they can’t win – nor should they, given that government has honoured the pay review recommendations in full having settled last year’s dispute immediately on taking office.”
He added,
“I doubt if there’s anybody with any trade union experience who thinks the BMA have chosen the right terrain on which to go to war with the government. This is a battle Wes Streeting has to win.”
What did Wes Streeting say about the junior doctors’ strike?
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the public and he cannot understand why junior doctors would strike following a 28.9% pay rise granted last year.
He called on the BMA to “listen to the public,” adding,
“Instead of rushing down this unreasonable path, the BMA need to pause and think about the real risk of people losing trust in doctors and the damage that would do to our NHS and the entire medical profession.”
What did the new BMA leader say about the doctors’ pay demand?
The British Medical Association’s new leader insisted the 29% pay increase for resident doctors is “non-negotiable,” with strikes possibly extending for years.
According to Dr. Tom Dolphin, the pay increase requested by doctors is both fair and within the NHS’s budget.
The union insists it won’t settle for less than a 29% increase, which the BMA claims doctors have lost in real-terms pay since 2008, a cut they want fully reversed.
What did Lord Darzi say about the impact of doctor strikes?
Lord Darzi of Denham, a surgeon who led a critical NHS review last year, said,
“Doctors have a special place in society. The public’s trust in doctors is earned, not guaranteed. I fear it will never recover if the BMA go ahead with strikes that are plainly unjustifiable.”
What did Daniel Elkeles say about the planned doctor strikes?
Daniel Elkeles, CEO of NHS Providers, representing hospital leaders, said,
“Announcing five days of strike action with just two weeks’ notice can only be harmful. It’s unfair to patients whose care will be cancelled at such short notice, just as the NHS was beginning to turn the tide on reducing waiting lists.”
He added,
“It shows a lack of respect for colleagues from many other disciplines who received lower pay rises and will now have to cover resident doctors’ work.”
What did the BMA junior doctors’ leaders say about strike plans?
Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt, the committee’s co-leaders, said they had “made every attempt to avoid strike action by opening negotiations for pay restoration.”
They stated,
“Unfortunately, the Government has stated that it will not negotiate on pay, wanting to focus on non-pay elements without suggesting what these might be. Without a credible offer to keep us on the path to restore our pay, we have no choice but to call strikes.”
They added,
“No doctor wants to strike, and these strikes don’t have to go ahead. If Mr Streeting can seriously come to the table in the next two weeks, we can ensure that no disruption is caused. The Government knows what is needed to avert strikes. The choice is theirs.”
How many resident doctors are set to join the strike?
Around 50,000 resident doctors are set to walk out later this month. The strike is scheduled from 7 am on July 25 to 7 am on July 30.