We Care for Patients, Not Strikes

A junior physician claiming there is "a significant issue" within under-resourced hospitals in the northwest of England has called...

A junior physician claiming there is "a significant issue" within under-resourced hospitals in the northwest of England has called on the government to approve a new salary agreement.

Junior doctors will stage a walkout across the region in protest against pay issues and the lack of specialty training opportunities.

Dr. Madjda Bougherira, a psychiatrist based in Manchester, stated that an increase in pay could aid in retaining staff and have a positive impact on patients in hospitals where "corridor care" has become common practice.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting stated that the "avoidable wave of strikes" will lead to some inconvenience for patients, with NHS staff "having to deal with the aftermath."

"No one desires to be on strike, we don't wish to be on strike. I have undergone all this training and I want to be out there providing care to patients," Dr Bougherira stated.

But if they don't compensate us and don't provide training, we won't be able to serve patients as effectively as we'd like.

She serves as the chair of the British Medical Association (BMA) North West regional committee for resident doctors.

The five-day strike by resident doctors—previously known as junior doctors—starts at 07:00 GMT, following the collapse of negotiations between the government and the BMA last week.

The body stated that even though resident doctors have received salary increases adding up to almost 30% over the last three years, their pay is still 20% less than it was in 2008 when inflation is considered.

• What has occurred with the salaries of resident doctors since 2008?

Dr. Bougherira stated, "Physicians' salaries have declined since 2008. We are now 21% lower in earnings than we were before. We are on strike to regain our pay and strive to reach the level we believe we deserve."

I am employed in the mental health field, and each day I witness the impact of insufficient staffing.

I visit the emergency department and witness corridor care becoming standard due to our insufficient staffing.

We desire to interact with patients, we wish to collaborate with them, but we are unable to, and there is clearly a major issue at hand.

First-year doctors currently make £19 per hour; all we are requesting is for that £19 to increase to just below £23 an hour, as a fully qualified doctor should be worth.

'Training crisis'

The BMA has also expressed worries regarding the ability of resident doctors to find employment in the future.

The union stated that many individuals are left without specialty training positions after completing their second year of residency.

The administration presented the union with an offer to cover examination fees and accelerate the expansion of training positions, but the BMA turned it down, stating that salary issues required attention.

Dr. Bougherira stated, "This is also a training crisis issue. We are witnessing doctors being compelled to leave the NHS due to their inability to secure positions as physicians."

She stated: "During the 24/25 application cycle, there were 30,000 applicants for 10,000 training positions. This issue won't be resolved by offering 1,000 or 2,000 additional spots."

An unprecedented number of physicians are seeking their certification to practice overseas.

Unless we focus on doctors with NHS experience and those who have trained here, this issue will never be fixed. We anticipate these numbers will continue to rise, and without immediate action, the 2026 figures will be significantly worse.

Health minister Wes Streeting stated that there is "no question" that walkouts will lead to some inconvenience for patients and employees.

"The blame for this situation clearly belongs to the BMA, which declined to present the government's proposal to its members," he stated.

I call on trainee doctors to avoid joining the BMA in striking, report for work to provide the care your patients require, and help us keep strengthening our NHS.

This recent move marks the 13th wave of strikes by trainee doctors since March 2023, causing 54 days of interruption to NHS operations.

Read more stories from Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseysideon the okay1, watchokay1North West Tonight on okay1iPlayer and follow okay1North West on X.

• Streeting accuses the doctors' union of behaving "like a cartel"
• BMA turns down new proposal to halt physician strikes
• First-year resident physicians engage in strike action due to a lack of available positions

Related internet links

• British Medical Association
• Department of Health and Social Care