Sir Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, has accused junior doctors of deliberately timing their six-day strike to coincide with the Easter holidays, causing maximum disruption to hospital services. In a letter to NHS bosses, Mackey said hospitals were struggling to fill rotas because many staff were already on leave for the holiday period.
The walkout, which began on Wednesday, is the longest yet in the ongoing dispute between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the government over pay and conditions. It marks the 15th strike by junior doctors since March 2023. Mackey warned that the action risked undermining recent progress in reducing waiting times and improving public satisfaction with the health service.
Despite the challenges, Mackey acknowledged that hospitals had managed to maintain planned care levels, with NHS England aiming to ensure at least 95% of such care continues during strikes. He expressed gratitude to staff for their efforts in keeping services running under pressure.
The BMA's resident doctors committee called the strike on 25 March, accusing the government of reneging on a potential deal that included extra progression pay worth £700 million over three years. The union is demanding a 26% pay rise over several years to compensate for real-terms salary erosion since 2008-09. Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the committee, said peace talks had been making good progress until the government shifted the goalposts.
