Latest news with #DrMichaelGregory
BBC News
28-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
NHS bosses vow to minimise doctors' strike impact
The regional medical director of the NHS in north-west England says they want to "make sure that we cancel as few appointments as possible" as the current doctors' strike continues into its fourth five-day walkout by resident doctors - previously known as junior doctors - began on Friday and is due to end on Wednesday morning after the government and doctors' union British Medical Association (BMA) failed to agree on wages last is the 12th strike by doctors since 2023 in the long-running pay dispute. Dr Michael Gregory, regional medical director of the NHS, said previous strikes had a "detrimental effect particularly with outpatient appointments and electric procedures". "Certainly this time around NHS England have made a definitive push on making sure that as many operations and outpatient appointments go ahead as possible," he told BBC North West Tonight."We still have urgent emergency care and we do have urgent cancer and other priority surgeries going ahead."He added that they had "consultant cover in place where we can on most days to cover services" but "clearly there's going to be services stretched".The NHS says it wants to keep operating non-urgent services during this latest walkout as they advised patients to attend appointments unless contacted to surgeries remain open and, for urgent or non-life threatening issues, 111 continues to be the best option and for emergency care A&E or 999. Speaking near a Liverpool hospital picket line, members of the public shared a variety of responses with one woman, who previously trained as a nurse, saying she believed the medics are "amazing but I think they're also on a good wage".Another man said: "I guess the doctors need to be paid. They do work hard, they do work long hours."Another woman added: "I disagree with them being on strike because they had a pay rise last year and most people are on a minimum wage."Resident doctors comprise around half of all doctors and can earn a basic salary of £38,831 during their first foundation year after completing their medical degree. This rises to £44,439 in the second year and salaries can increase to about £70,000 after eight years. 'Pay restoration' During 2023-24, over two years, they received a 22% pay rise. From this August, they will get an extra 5.4% pay the BMA says resident doctors' pay will be 20% lower in real terms than it was in 2008, even with the increase this also argue that resident doctors may have more student debt due to the five or six-year duration of their representative Dr Mohammed Kamora, who was on the Liverpool picket line, described the latest pay increases as having "started a journey towards pay restoration" and that those on strike were "asking for parity for what we had in 2008"."That is the key to retaining our best and brightest," he Secretary Wes Streeting has said resident doctors have received the largest pay rises of any public sector employees over the past three government said it would not offer any further increases and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said the walkouts threatened "to turn back the clock on progress we have made in rebuilding the NHS over the last year". Read more stories from Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X.
Yahoo
25-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NHS urges public to do one thing as doctors' strikes begin
The NHS in the north west is urging people to do one thing as doctors' strikes begin. The region's NHS is asking people to come forward for care and 'use services wisely during industrial action' by resident doctors starting today (July 25). The five-day walk out by resident doctors, from 7am today, Friday, to 7am Wednesday, July 30, marks the twelfth strike from resident doctors since March 2023. READ MORE: 'We were relaxing by the pool at a luxury resort in Mexico when our holiday turned into a nightmare' READ MORE: Jay Slater inquest finally reveals exactly what happened to tragic teenager in Tenerife as cause of death confirmed It will result in 49 days of disruption to NHS services. Never miss a story with the MEN's daily Catch Up newsletter - get it in your inbox by signing up here During these strikes, all other NHS staff, including consultants and other specialist doctors, will still be working, and the focus of the NHS will be on ensuring as many services as possible continue to operate safely. Dr Michael Gregory, Regional Medical Director for NHS England in the North West, said: 'This period of industrial action will create significant challenges for the NHS and it is vital the public know how they can access the care they need during that time. 'It's important that people use NHS 111 online ( as their first port of call for all non-urgent health needs, as well as use their local GP practice and community pharmacies as usual. 'Urgent and emergency care services remain open during the industrial action period and people should call 999 or attend the accident and emergency department in the event of a life or limb threatening emergency.' 'We know from previous strikes that there will be significant disruption to patient appointments as a result of the strikes', said the region's NHS. There may be fewer doctors working during this time and they will need to prioritise life saving care. 'The NHS will do its best to only cancel appointments where it is necessary', health bosses have promised. Join our Family WhatsApp group HERE Dr Michael Gregory continued: 'I would urge people to please attend your appointment as planned. The NHS will contact you if your appointment needs to be rescheduled due to strike action. 'I'd like to thank the public for their continued support and our NHS staff who are going above and beyond to maintain safe patient services during this challenging period.' The NHS is also asking the public to play their part during industrial action by looking after themselves, loved ones and checking in on vulnerable family members and neighbours. For more information about industrial action and how you can use NHS services wisely during this time, visit: NHS England » Information for the public on industrial action.
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Report: Nimbus Covid variant doubles in a month
Published: Updated: Nimbus, known scientifically as N.B.1.8.1, is thought to be the most contagious variant of the virus yet with experts warning it could drive a wave of new cases this summer. Other data collected by the agency shows the total number of tests coming back positive for any type of Covid has increased to 6.8 per cent as of June 15, the latest available data. This is up from 5.6 per cent last month and represents the highest figure recorded so far this year. They warned that many people's immunity to the virus, built up from previous infections and older jabs, has likely faded meaning they could be at higher risk of falling ill. Lab studies suggest Nimbus can infect human cells more efficiently than previous strains, and that it may have increased ability to dodge the immune system, making it more likely to infect people. However, there is currently no evidence that the strain, a descendant of the already super virulent Omicron , is any more likely to cause severe illness or death in those it infects, compared to previous strains. But any Covid infection with the virus can still be deadly, especially for more vulnerable groups like the elderly or those with compromised immune systems. Medics have warned that anyone with a 'razor blade' throat could have Nimbus. Dr Michael Gregory, regional medical Director for NHS England in the North West recently said: 'The variant looks to be spreading rapidly within communities, with top symptoms being a "razor blade" sore throat and swollen neck glands.' Broad Nimbus symptoms are not thought to differ from other Covid variants and include fatigue, fever, muscle ache and a sore throat. Experts have also said that current Covid vaccines, which have been reformulated to combat Omicron descendants, are expected to remain effective against Nimbus. While data suggests Nimbus is on the rise in the UK it currently still accounts for a minority of total Covid cases. Instead, strains LP.8.1.1 and XFG—which, like Nimbus, are descended Omicron—were the most common Covid variants accounting for a fifth and a quarter of all tests analysed, respectively. Earlier this month the World Health Organisation said Nimbus now accounts for 10.7 per cent of Covid infections worldwide, compared to just 2.5 per cent in May. Other UKHSA data, shows that only 59 per cent of Britons in England aged over 75 had taken up the offer of a Covid vaccine. Uptake fell to just one in four among under 75s with compromised immune systems, who are also eligible for the jab on the NHS. NHS England's spring Covid vaccine drive is drawing to a close with the system closing for bookings earlier this week. Vaccine companies are reported to be in the midst of updating their shots to fit the 'Nimbus' strain.
