Junior doctor strike ‘will cause major disruption’, warns NHSE

The strike runs from 7am on Monday 13 March though to 7am on Thursday 16 March and could involve between 40-50,000 junior doctors across England, who are members of the British Medical Association and another union for hospital doctors, the HCSA.

Junior doctors working at all levels below consultant grade – around 40 per cent of the total medical workforce - will take part at all NHS trusts in England. Some trainee hospital dentists are also striking at the same time and junior doctors on placements in GP surgeries, may also walk out.

Unlike nursing or ambulance unions, the doctors’ unions have not agreed any national exemptions for some junior doctors to provide life or limb saving care. Instead, hospitals are asking consultants to cover the most urgent work of junior staff.

In guidance to the public, NHS England said ‘strikes by junior doctors will cause major disruption and thousands of patients may face postponements to their treatment’. However, NHSE added that it was ‘really important that patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases’.

Unions representing nurses, ambulance staff and physiotherapists, were recently invited into formal pay talks with the government but no outcome has yet been announced.

Next week also sees a 2-day national strike by teachers and a major march is planned in London by public sector workers on Budget day, Wednesday 15 March.