Junior doctors to stage fifth walkout following pay dispute

Striking NHS junior doctors on the picket line outside Southend University Hospital in Essex.
The strike will be the fifth walkout in the past few months. Credit: PA

Junior doctors in England are to stage a fifth walkout forcing the NHS to cancel thousands more appointments as the British Medical Association announced another four-day strike.The union said the walkout was the “next round of monthly strike action” as it called for the Government to return to the negotiating table.The strike will take place from Friday August 11 to Tuesday August 15.

Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi, co-chairs of the BMA junior doctors’ committee, said in a statement: "It should never have got to the point where we needed to announce a fifth round of strike action.

Health Minister Eluned Morgan is calling on everyone to play their part in the future of Wales' health and social care system. Credit: PA

"Our message today remains the same: act like a responsible government, come to the table to negotiate with us in good faith, and with a credible offer these strikes need not go ahead at all."

It is the latest round of strikes from both junior doctors and consultants, which has led to the cancellation of tens of thousands of NHS appointments.

Health service leaders have called for an end to the dispute after figures show that industrial action in England over the last eight months has led to 819,000 appointments, operations and procedures being postponed.

Junior doctors have rejected the government's offer. Credit: PA

The latest announcement from junior doctors means there will be six severely disrupted days in the NHS in England in August.

Throughout July consultants, junior doctors and radiographers have been on strike, severely limiting the ability of the NHS.

Radiographers have walked out this week, disrupting the NHS's ability to use X-rays.

Last week Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers said the consultant's strike which ended on Saturday "the impact of this strike on patients and services is likely to be the biggest yet."

The consultant's strike happened just two days after junior doctors staged a five-day walkout, the longest in the history of the NHS.Earlier this month the government announced pay increases for millions of public sector workers, including doctors.

It said that junior doctors will receive a 6% rise along with an additional consolidated £1,250 increase, while hospital consultants will receive a 6% rise.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the deal was the “final offer” and there will be “no more talks on pay”.

As a result, BMA consultants announced further walkouts will take place shortly before the August bank holiday, on August 24 and 25.

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