Junior doctors and consultants hold first-ever joint strike

Junior doctors and consultants have held the first joint strike in the history of the NHS as they continue to call for better pay.

In Bristol, medical professionals formed picket lines outside the Bristol Royal Infirmary, Southmead Hospital and Callington Road Hospital on Wednesday morning despite heavy rainfall.

The consultants’ two-day strike ends on Wednesday, while it marks the start of a three-day strike by junior doctors.

It is the third walkout by consultants and the sixth by junior doctors, with them providing limited cover including emergency care during the strike action.

Sam Taylor Smith, a junior doctor from the Temple Meads area, was among those taking part in the picket line outside Southmead Hospital.

The 28-year-old said the pay rise on offer – six per cent for consultants and 8.8 per cent for junior doctors depending on their level – is “not enough”.

“This problem has been seen over the last decade and the way the current government have acted is not good enough,” he said.

“It has been incredibly stressful and there have been many problems. We are quite frankly as a team exacerbated and we have been unable to deliver care to the level that we have wanted to.

“It is very disruptive and there is no doubt about it that striking today will contribute to the current problems with obtaining an appointment today.

“However, striking is not the sole reason that the NHS has so many problems today. Everyone recognises that these problems are long-term and we are taking action because we want things to change and want the government to recognise that change needs to happen.”

Junior doctor Sam Taylor Smith said it is ” incredibly stressful” working for the NHS at the moment – photo: Lottie Leigh

The strikes have been organised by the British Medical Association, which is calling for a 35 per cent pay increase for junior doctors, saying pay has been eroded since 2008/9,

Consultants say their pay has fallen by at least one third and are calling for “a credible pay offer” though they have not put a figure on it.

BMA leader Philip Banfield said if the government cared about patients it would “reopen talks and come to the table with a credible offer”.

Lucy West, a GP registrar who was also on the picket line outside Southmead Hospital, said she was striking “because the figures of pay erosion have been pretty huge over the last 15 years”.

“There is not enough staff working in the NHS to solve the issues that we have today,” she said.

“It’s been a challenge and hard to adapt to the pandemic and hard to adapt for patients so that they get the care that they need.”

She admitted the disruption the strikes are causing to care is “a shame and impacting the quality of life”.

“It has not been an easy decision for me taking part in these strikes and all of us here today want to be back at work caring for the patients and carrying out the care that they need,” she added.

“We are here today to advocate for improvements in the health service and we are very keen to negotiate with the government.”

GP registrar Lucy West admitted the strike action is a “shame and impacting the quality of life” – photo: Lottie Leigh

Steve Barclay, the health secretary, said medical staff have received “a fair and reasonable pay rise” – as recommended by the independent pay review body.

“It’s time for the BMA to end its escalating action and put patients first so we can continue to cut NHS waiting lists,” he said.

He has also launched a consultation on whether to set minimum service levels in hospitals. This would require some NHS staff, including doctors and nurses, to work during strikes.

Main photo & video: Charlie Watts    

Read next:

• Junior doctors march through Bristol to fight for 35% pay rise
• Radiographers begin two-day walkout over pay and staffing
• Senior doctors begin 48-hour strike over pay

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