Junior doctors balloted today over strike action
If successful, junior doctors will go on strike in March.
Junior doctors are being balloted today over proposed strike action in March.
The British Medical Association says junior doctors have seen a real term pay cut of 26.1% in their salaries over the past 15 years.
If carried out, junior doctors in England will walk out for 72 hours and will not provide emergency NHS care.
The BMA said NHS trusts will need to arrange emergency cover to ensure patient safety.
If the ballot is successful, it will be the second time junior doctors would have gone on strike over pay. The last time was in 2016, when the current Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt was Health Secretary.
Junior doctors are excluded from an NHS pay rise this year because their contract is subject to a multi-year pay deal. They are, however, entitled to a two percent pay rise for 2022/2023.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Steve Barclay said their doors remained open for unions to talk to them.
Dr Shivam Sharma sits on the West Midlands BMA Regional Junior Doctor Committee and claimed the NHS is in crisis.
He said doctors must go through years of hard work and education. He added: “You come out to the other side and see you had a 26% pay cut; you see how poor the working conditions are and you see the governments complete apathy towards the current conditions. It is absolutely demoralising.”