NHS bosses and the British Medical Association (BMA) are trading accusations over patient safety during the ongoing five-day strike by resident doctors. The dispute centres on 'derogations', local agreements that allow striking doctors to cross picket lines to provide emergency care. The BMA had rejected 18 such requests by Sunday, according to NHS England, while granting nine.
One refused derogation involved a doctor needed for a prostate cancer biopsy service at Milton Keynes University Hospital, which the union deemed non-urgent. However, the BMA said it received 47 requests and agreed to allow 16 doctors to return to work, including cover for neonatal intensive care at Nottingham City Hospital and overnight shifts at Sheffield's Northern General Hospital.
An NHS spokesperson said: 'Derogation requests ... are being made by the most senior clinical teams on the ground, and delays or refusals by the British Medical Association questions their integrity and risks patient safety.' The BMA countered that NHS chiefs had failed to ensure adequate staffing, leading to last-minute derogations and potential safety risks. 'These hospitals have a lot to answer for,' the union said in a social media post.
Senior NHS officials estimate that participation in this strike has dropped to about 60%, down from 80% in previous walkouts. One source cited the 22% pay rise awarded last year as a reason for reduced support. Meanwhile, the Royal College of Nursing revealed that nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have voted to reject their 3.6% pay award, raising the prospect of further industrial action later this year.
The BMA plans to increase pressure on Health Secretary Wes Streeting by picketing King George Hospital in his Ilford North constituency on Tuesday. The strike, part of the campaign for a 29% pay rise, is set to end at 7am on Wednesday.
