Doctors Strike Across the UK Over Pay Dispute

Описание: Most junior doctors do not support Friday’s strike, a poll has revealed as Wes Streeting attacked the British Medical Association for going “against the wishes” of its members. The health secretary said the BMA seemed intent on “causing pain to patients” as thousands of junior doctors prepared for a five-day walkout from 7am on Friday. Only 33 per cent of BMA junior doctors, who now wish to be known as resident doctors, said they agreed the strike should go ahead after Streeting offered them a package of reforms.

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Forty-eight per cent said the strike should have been called off and the remaining 19 per cent were unsure, according to the survey by Savanta shared with The Times.

Streeting wrote to BMA leaders on Wednesday last week offering a deal to put “money in doctors’ pockets” including by paying exam fees and giving them priority for jobs over foreign medical staff. But the BMA rejected the deal without consulting their wider membership.

In a week dominated by speculation over his leadership ambitions, Streeting has made last-ditch attempts to get the BMA to call off the strike, with no success.

However, the poll suggests there is a good chance the union’s members would have voted to accept the government’s offer and bring years of disruptive strikes to an end.

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