Don’t put off treatment during doctors’ strike, NHS tells patients

NHS Advises Patients to Keep Attending Appointments

The NHS has advised patients to proceed with their medical care as usual despite the start of a six-day strike by resident doctors in England on Tuesday. This marks the 15th instance of a walkout since the dispute over pay and job opportunities began. NHS managers warn that the strike, occurring after a long bank holiday weekend, may lead to increased demand, which they anticipate could pose significant challenges.

Strike Details and Government Response

Tens of thousands of doctors will participate in the strike from 07:00 BST on Tuesday until shortly before 07:00 on Monday, 13 April. Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the strikes as “disappointing” but emphasized the priority of maintaining service continuity to safeguard patients and staff. He noted that the NHS managed to fulfill nearly 95% of its planned activities during the previous December strikes.

“The NHS is still open for business and there are still plenty of people there available to care for you.” – Prof Ramani Moonesinghe, national clinical director for critical and perioperative care at NHS England

Prof Moonesinghe assured the public that “tried and tested systems” would ensure the health service remains operational. She urged patients to attend scheduled appointments unless notified of delays, and to use emergency services like A&E or 999 for urgent conditions. For less critical issues, she recommended visiting a GP or local pharmacy.

BMA’s Concerns About Disruption

The British Medical Association (BMA), representing the striking doctors, acknowledged the potential for disruption despite NHS assurances. Dr Jack Fletcher, chairman of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, stated that senior doctors would cover for their colleagues, though he noted this might lead to exhaustion among the workforce.

“Many senior doctors will be covering for us and whilst that of course benefits patients, we know they are also exhausted and as demoralised as we are.” – Dr Jack Fletcher, BMA resident doctors committee chair

Resident doctors, who comprise nearly half of the NHS workforce, are critical to its operations. The BMA highlighted that the government had rescinded a key part of its offer by removing 1,000 additional training spots, citing financial and operational constraints. However, the BMA argues this move does not affect the overall number of doctors, as the roles will be filled from existing temporary positions.

Pay Dispute and Inflation Considerations

The strike follows the collapse of negotiations to resolve the three-year-long pay dispute. The government had previously agreed to a 3.5% raise for all doctors, including resident doctors, effective this month. Yet, the BMA claims this increase still leaves their salaries 20% below 2008 levels when adjusted for inflation. The union uses the Retail Price Index (RPI) to measure inflation, aligning with the government’s method for calculating student loan interest.