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 the walkout, which began on Wednesday, has made it difficult for hospitals to fill rotas due to many staff being on leave.
The strike, the 15th since March 2023 and the longest yet, involves thousands of junior doctors who are members of the British Medical Association (BMA). Mackey warned that the industrial action risks undermining recent progress in reducing waiting times and improving public satisfaction with the health service.
Despite the challenges, Mackey acknowledged that hospitals have managed to maintain around 95% of planned care, thanking staff for their efforts. The BMA called the strike on March 25, accusing the government of changing the terms of a potential pay deal. The union is demanding a 26% pay rise over several years to restore the real-terms value of salaries eroded since 2008-09.
The dispute centers on 'progression pay,' which the BMA claims the Department of Health and Social Care agreed to but then delayed. Dr. Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA's resident doctors committee, said peace talks were making progress until the government 'shifted the goalposts.' The strike is set to continue over the Easter period, with hospitals bracing for further disruption.
