JUNIOR doctors begin the second day of their pre-election strike today – despite fears that the strike will be an “own goal”.
Opponents say the five-day protest achieves nothing as ministers cannot negotiate and will only frustrate whichever party wins power.
British Medical Association doctors downed tools by Tuesday, with the 11th strike taking the total to 44 days of industrial action since March last year.
Conservative Health Secretary Victoria Atkins called the timing irresponsible and warned it will harm patients, while Labor counterpart Wes Streeting urged the BMA to call off the strike.
A BMA source said: “I cannot understand what the strike hopes to achieve.
“There is no government to negotiate with.”
Another added: “Strategically it’s a wrong decision, like an own goal.
“They should call off this strike, agree to meet with the new ministerial team and see if they can salvage a deal.”
Strike leaders welcomed the prospect of negotiating with Labor over wages and said the party appeared “willing to try”.
Labor chief Sir Keir Starmer said on Thursday: “What we will do is make sure that on day one we start the discussion.”
NHS England chief medical officer Professor Sir Stephen Powis said: “This new round of strikes will again hit the NHS very hard.
“Hotter weather could put additional pressure on services at a time when demand is already high.”
Heat health warnings are in place across England this week, with temperatures reaching 30C in some areas.
Hot weather increases pressure on hospitals as people fall victim to dehydration and heat exhaustion, and face a greater risk of sudden heart, lung and kidney problems.
Although the weather will cool slightly over the next five days, NHS bosses say the damage has probably already been done.
‘THIS WAS JUST POLITICAL’
HEALTH Secretary Victoria Atkins said in May that the BMA’s decision to strike in the final days of the general election campaign showed the strikes were political.
The junior doctors’ committee is seen as left-wing and opposed to the Conservative Party – but says it wouldn’t be any easier for a Labor government.
When announcing the latest strike last month, committee leaders said: “When we entered mediation, we were under the impression that we had a functioning government that would soon make an offer.
“Clearly no offers are available now.”
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said the choice of dates was a “highly cynical tactic”.
She wrote on X: “Announcing this during an election and on Workplace Health Day shows this has always been political and not about patients or staff.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
