Striking junior doctors will take further industrial action over nine days across the beginning of January.
Junior doctors and hospital dental trainees previously began their strike action on Wednesday (20 December 2023) at 7.00am and finished at 7.00am on Saturday (23 December 2023).
The British Medical Asssociation (BMA) claimed the Government’s newest offer amounted to an additional 3 per cent, on top of an 9.8 per cent rise already given. It said the lack of a ‘credible offer’ forced it into another round of strikes.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said the Government would ‘immediately look to come back to the table’ if the devastating strikes were called off.
So, when exactly is the next wave of upcoming doctors strikes in January and how long will they last for? Read on below for everything you need to know about the junior doctors strikes.
The British Medical Asssociation (BMA) claimed the Government’s newest offer amounted to an additional 3 per cent, on top of an 9.8 per cent rise already given. It said the lack of a ‘credible offer’ forced it into another round of strikes
Full list of junior doctors’ strikes in January 2024
The British Medical Association (BMA) is holding a further junior doctors’ strike of a full six day walkout from 07.00, Wednesday 3 January to 07.00, Tuesday 9 January 2024.
The junior doctors’ strike will have a significant impact on NHS hospitals and GP surgeries, however, available staff will continue to run urgent and emergency services throughout the strike, including A&E departments and maternity units.
Most of the planned operations and outpatient appointments that are currently booked for this period will most likely be rescheduled, according to NHS England.
If you have an appointment during this time and it is to be rescheduled, including if it needs to be changed to a virtual appointment, you will be contacted directly by the NHS as soon as possible and a new appointment will be arranged.
The NHS have advised that for those who seek non-emergency medical help or advice to visit NHS 111 online – however, if an individual requires emergency care (serious illness, injury or life is threatened), people are encouraged to call 999.
Following the pandemic, waiting lists have soared to an all-time high. NHS figures show 7.8million patients are currently needing routine treatment, up on the 4.5m logged pre-pandemic.
Insiders fear the dire situation will likely only get worse due to the winter season and the threat of further doctors strikes.
What have the government said about junior doctors strikes?
The NHS have said in a statement on its website: ‘We have now seen over a year of industrial action across the NHS and staff continue to work hard to provide patients with the best possible care under the circumstances.
The British Medical Association (BMA) is holding a further junior doctors’ strike of a full six day walkout from 07.00, Wednesday 3 January to 07.00, Tuesday 9 January 2024
Industrial action has impacted over a million hospital appointments across the NHS.
The previous round of industrial action by junior doctors in October saw over 86,000 hospital appointments disrupted and up to 25,000 staff off per day due to industrial action.’
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said: ‘It is disappointing that, despite significant progress, the BMA junior doctors committee have walked away from negotiations and declared new strikes, which will result in more disruption for patients and extra pressure on NHS services and staff.
‘I have been clear that I respect the work of doctors in training and want to work with them to settle this dispute.
‘We have agreed a fair and reasonable offer with the BMA’s consultants committee which is being put to members for vote following constructive talks.’
She added: ‘If the junior doctors committee call off their strikes, we will immediately look to come back to the table to continue negotiations.’
The strike dates have coincided with one of the NHS’s busiest periods of the year, with emergency services often stretched to the limit.
Despite five weeks of negotiations – when industrial action by junior doctors had been suspended – an agreement was unable to be reached.
The BMA wants a 35% pay increase, to make up for previous rises it says have been below the rate of inflation since 2008.
Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi, co-chairmen of the BMA’s junior doctor committee, said: ‘We have been clear from the outset of these talks that we needed to move at pace and if we did not have a credible offer, we would be forced to call strikes.
‘After five weeks of intense talks, the Government was unable to present a credible offer on pay by the deadline.
‘Instead, we were offered an additional 3 per cent, unevenly spread across doctors’ grades, which would still amount to pay cuts for many doctors this year.’
