Latest news with #DrRossNieuwoudt
The Independent
11 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Regrettable that BMA let slip medics are excited for new strikes
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said it is 'regrettable' the British Medical Association (BMA) 'let slip' that resident doctors are feeling excited by the prospect of more strikes. He told the PA news agency that union members 'could be round the table working together' rather than on picket lines. Doctors in training, formerly known as junior doctors, are currently being balloted on whether or not to stage further walkouts, with the vote closing on July 7. Speaking at the BMA's annual representative meeting in Liverpool on Tuesday, Dr Ross Nieuwoudt, co-chair of the union's resident doctors committee, suggested that 'people are excited to go again'. He then corrected this to 'energised' when pressed. He said: 'Excited as in energised. Not excited as in looking forward to it.' Mr Streeting told PA: 'I don't think the resident doctors on the front line are excited by the prospect of strike action. 'I don't think that people want to be out on picket lines. 'And I think it's regrettable that the BMA to be honest let slip that they're feeling excited.' Previous strikes by resident doctors have taken place 11 times since 2022, leading to almost 1.5 million appointments being cancelled or rescheduled. Members of the BMA voted to accept a Government pay deal worth 22.3% on average over two years last September. The Government also committed to working with the union to streamline how resident doctors report any additional hours they work. Dr Nieuwoudt said on Tuesday that doctors in training 'want to push for change', but 'their cries have fallen on deaf ears'. He said that while Mr Streeting gave medics 'a good deal that could stop the strike action at the time', which included promises about a 'genuine pathway' towards restoring pay, this has not happened. Mr Streeting told PA: 'I just remind the BMA that they've got in me, someone who not only wants to work with them, has already worked with them to deliver a 28.9% pay rise for resident doctors for the last three years, and shares their anger about the experiences of frontline resident doctors in terms of how their treated at work. 'Their placements, their rotations, their ability to take time off, the lack of hot food facilities overnight. 'So rather than be out on the picket line, we could be round the table working together to sort this out and to and to improve the NHS. And that's what I want us to do together.' The co-chairs of the BMA's resident doctors committee, Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Nieuwoudt, said in a statement: 'The Health Secretary has been refusing to meet with us since he announced this year's disappointing pay award, so it's good to hear that he would now like to get round the table. 'We'll be expecting to start negotiations on July 8th, when our ballot will have closed and there will be no excuse not to meet.'
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Resident doctors in England start receiving ballots for industrial action
Resident doctors in England, formerly known as junior doctors, have started receiving ballots for renewed industrial action following criticism of the Government's recent pay rise offer. Ministers announced last week that most doctors would receive a 4% pay rise following the latest review of public sector pay, with resident doctors to receive an extra £750 on top of the uplift. The British Medical Association (BMA), the union representing doctors, said the pay rise does not go far enough in restoring historical pay freezes. Resident doctors in England starting receiving ballots for industrial action on Tuesday, the BMA said. The ballot closes on July 7, and if doctors vote for action then a mandate would last between July and January next year. Co-chairs of the resident doctors committee urged doctors to vote for strike action, but said the door remains open for the Government to come through with a solution. Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt said: 'Last week the Government finally told us what it would do to restore the pay of doctors: almost nothing. 'Doctors have seen their pay decline by 23% in real terms since 2008. No doctor today is worth less than they were then, but at the rate the Government is offering it would be over a decade before we once again reached that level of pay. 'As ballots once again fall through doctors' letterboxes, we are simply saying: the NHS does not have that time. Waiting lists are too high, too many people can't see their GP, too many patients are being treated in corridors. 'Doctors need to be kept in the country and in their career not in 10 or 20 years' time, but now.' They continued: 'We are urging doctors to vote yes to strike action. By voting yes they will be telling the Government there is no alternative to fixing pay – this cannot wait for different fiscal circumstances and a healthier NHS. The answer is to fix it today. 'While doctors continue to return these ballots however, our door is always open. 'Wes Streeting has made clear he knows the value of dialogue over division. Instead of repeating the mistakes of his predecessors, he can come to us with a solution now. Even if doctors vote for industrial action, with the right approach not a single picket line need ever form.' The increase, recommended by an independent pay review body, is above the rate of inflation, which jumped to 3.5% in April, up from 2.6% in March and the highest since January 2024. But Professor Philip Banfield, the BMA's chairman of council, warned shortly after the Government's announcement that the union was already considering strike action, believing the pay rise does not do enough to restore doctors' pay after previous salary freezes. 'Doctors' pay is still around a quarter less than it was in real terms 16 years ago and today's 'award' delays pay restoration even more, without a government plan or reassurance to correct this erosion of what a doctor is worth,' he said. Mr Streeting, the Health Secretary, said: 'I understand the anxiety and anger that resident doctors have felt and continue to feel about their part of the profession – over 14 years, they saw the NHS that they were working in slide into crisis. 'That's why, within weeks of coming into office, I was determined to resolve the pay dispute and give resident doctors a substantial pay rise. That's now being followed by another above-inflation average pay award of 5.4% (which includes the top up). 'The result is that resident doctors have seen their pay increase by 28.9% compared to three years ago. The average starting salary of a full-time Resident Doctor is now around £38,800 – up nearly £9,500 since 2022-23. 'I want to work in partnership with resident doctors to deliver the change that the NHS is crying out for. Together, we have made great progress – in the past ten months, through our Plan for Change, we have worked with staff to cut waiting lists by over 200,000 and put the NHS on the road to recovery – let's not stop now.' Resident doctor is the new term for junior doctor and refers to more than 50,000 qualified doctors working in GP practices and hospitals, from graduates to medics with a decade of experience. Resident doctor members of the BMA have taken industrial action 11 times since 2022. NHS England estimates the walkouts led to almost 1.5 million appointments being cancelled or rescheduled.
The Sun
26-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Resident doctors begin to be balloted on renewed industrial action over pay rise offer
RESIDENT doctors in England today begin to be balloted on renewed industrial action over the Government's pay rise offer. Ministers announced last week that most doctors would receive a four per cent rise following the latest review of public sector pay. 2 Resident doctors — formerly known as junior doctors — would get an extra £750. But trade union the British Medical Association said it does not go far enough in restoring historical pay freezes. It confirmed resident doctors in England would start to receive ballots for industrial action from today. The ballot closes on July 7 and, if doctors vote for action, a mandate would last from July to next January. Co-chairs of the union's Resident Doctors Committee urged doctors to vote for strike action. Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt said: 'Doctors have seen their pay decline by 23 per cent in real terms since 2008. "We are urging doctors to vote yes to strike action. 'But while doctors continue to return these ballots, our door is always open.' Resident doctors in the BMA have taken industrial action 11 times since 2022. Junior doctors branded 'irresponsible and dangerous' as they stage 11th strike with 5-day walkout 2
