England’s junior doctors went on strike for the third time on March 8, 2016, after talks over new contracts between the government and the doctor’s trade union, the British Medical Association, broke down. Junior doctors have received their medical degrees.
English Junior Doctors Strike for Third Time—Threaten to Leave
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The government had announced plans to impose a new contract on the junior doctors this coming summer. Prime Minister David Cameron’s government said the new contracts are needed to fulfill his promise of a “seven-day NHS (National Health Service).” Studies had shown that mortality rates were higher on weekends. The doctors say that’s because weekend hospital admissions tend to be emergency cases. The dispute is over whether Saturday should be classed and paid as a normal work day.
According to published reports, around 5, 000 treatments were postponed during this latest 48-hour strike.
The BBC reported that Jeremy Hunt, the government’s Health Secretary, said he had to impose the new contracts because the doctors were holding him to “ransom.”
But public opinion seems to be siding with the 50, 000 junior doctors, who make up a third of the country’s medical workforce and 50% of all doctors in the NHS. Polling by IPSOS MORI showed that 65% of 860 approached by the BBC-commissioned survey, supported the doctors.
The junior doctors currently have a starting salary of £22, 636 ($1 = £.70), reaching £30, 000 or about $43, 000 within four years. Those in specialist training earn between £30, 002 and £47, 175, while those who succeed can earn up to £69, 325. However, a series of complex supplements means the doctors can earn on average £40, 000 in the initial stages of training, according to the Department of Health’s estimates, and £56, 000 in the later stages.
According to Euronews.com, surgical trainee and junior doctor Alex Trevatt said: “In my entire time as a doctor, I’ve never heard so many people say that they are considering either leaving the profession completely or at least leaving the country and going to work somewhere else.” No word on whether or not U.S. hospitals were busy recruiting the English junior doctors.
Two more strikes are planned for April. The rest of England’s doctors have not participated in the strike action.
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This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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