Latest news with #PhilipBanfield
The Independent
14 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Resident doctors ‘energised' over prospect of more strikes, medics say
Resident doctors are 'energised' at the prospect of a fresh round of strikes amid an ongoing row over pay. Doctors in training, formerly known as junior doctors, said their cries have 'fallen on deaf ears'. Ross Nieuwoudt, co-chairman of the British Medical Association's (BMA's) resident doctors committee, initially suggested medics were 'excited' for potential industrial action but later corrected himself. Resident doctor members of the BMA are currently voting on staging further walkouts, with the ballot set to close on July 7. The last bout of strikes caused months of upheaval across the NHS and led to almost 1.5 million appointments being cancelled or rescheduled. It comes as Professor Philip Banfield, chairman of council at the BMA, said the medics had 'lost their faith' in Health Secretary Wes Streeting and expressed confidence that the ballot will succeed. Speaking at the union's annual representative meeting in Liverpool, he added: 'We're still in a position where no doctor wants to go on strike. But we've also been very clear with Government that they need to lay out how to restore the value of doctors pay. 'It's been very clear, very upfront – please tell us what that roadmap looks like. But it's the lack of commitment to restoring pay. That is the stumbling block.' Resident doctor members of the BMA have taken industrial action 11 times since 2022. Dr Nieuwoudt had suggested that 'people are excited to go again' but corrected this to 'energised' when pressed. He said: 'Excited as in energised. Not excited as in looking forward to it. 'It's something that they want to push for change. Their cries have fallen on deaf ears. There hasn't been adequate response from the Government in all the previous years. 'This time, Wes Streeting came in, gave us the start of a good deal – or a good deal that could stop the strike action at the time – with the promise that there would be a genuine pathway towards restoring our pay and unfortunately, that hasn't happened.' Dr Melissa Ryan, co-chairwoman of the BMA resident doctors committee, added: 'I think there's many things in our working conditions and our pay that can be improved. 'And I think excited to go again is the membership being excited that the BMA is recognising what it is and taking action on it.' Dr Ryan and Dr Nieuwoudt urged Mr Streeting to work with the BMA to avoid strikes. 'What I would really like to see from Wes Streeting is the same energy that he came into the Government with last year, which is where he closed them (strikes) off in a matter of weeks,' Dr Nieuwoudt added. 'It's completely within his gift to do that.' Resident doctor 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. However, Prof Banfield said there has been a 'loss of trust' among resident doctors for Mr Streeting, claiming there were problems ironing out some details around 'exception reporting', which is how resident doctors flag when their work varies from their agreed schedule. 'It was a really easy and straightforward thing to sort out that didn't then get sorted out until, actually, the Secretary of State intervened personally with it, because they just couldn't get agreement with the employers and the NHS about how that should materialise,' he added. 'So the residents lost their faith. You know, if you're going to talk to us, not just about headline pay, but about the stuff that is also important about lives, like how we get shoved around the country on rotations, how can we believe you in that? 'You've struggled to deliver something that was agreed, how are we to have faith in you with the stuff that is yet to be talked about? 'And I think rebuilding that faith and trust is one of those things that the Secretary of State can do, and will try to do, I'm sure.' Dr Nieuwoudt said he does not think it is 'appropriate' for 'doctors to be subsidising the NHS on their lost wages'. He said that 'waiting lists are still massive' with patients suffering as a result, adding: 'What we'd like to do is work with the Government to make sure that those things are coming down. 'But unfortunately, right now, we're focused on simply regaining what we've lost.' Earlier this month, the BMA announced consultants and specialist, associate specialist, and specialty (SAS) doctors in England would take part in an indicative ballot in an escalation of their row over pay. Speaking of the prospect of future walkouts, Dr Helen Neary, co-chairwoman of the BMA consultants committee, said strike action 'is not something that consultants want to be doing'. 'But I am sure that if, if there is no talks with the Secretary of State, and if we are unable to take progress forwards with meaningful negotiations to create a path towards pay restoration, then I have no doubt that at that point, then our membership will vote with us and for industrial action,' she added. Dr Shanu Datta, co-chairman of the consultants committee, said that senior doctors are not 'hardwired into striking'. 'Certainly, when I was on the picket lines last year, it was a pinch me moment,' he added. 'People said (striking) couldn't be done and we would never do it. That genie is out of the bottle. It won't go back in.' Dr Datta also said consultants are 'crucial' in the delivery of the Government's upcoming 10 year plan. 'If we're haemorrhaging consultants, then the 10 year plan will definitely be in doubt,' he said. Dr Neary also warned that strikes by senior doctors would 'certainly have an impact' on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's pledge to get waiting times down to 18 weeks. 'It would certainly make reducing those waiting lists much more challenging,' she said.
Medscape
19 hours ago
- Health
- Medscape
Most UK Doctors Lack Confidence in GMC, Survey Finds
Most doctors surveyed by the British Medical Association (BMA) this month expressed lack of confidence in the General Medical Council's (GMC) ability to protect the public. Four-fifths of those polled backed creating a replacement body. Following years of scandals and disputes involving the GMC, the poll reflects growing dissatisfaction within the profession regarding the regulator's performance. Out of 1404 respondents, only 16.1% agreed the GMC was fulfilling its statutory duty of public protection. A majority of 61.2% disagreed or strongly disagreed. When asked whether a new regulator should be established dedicated solely to doctors, 82.2% supported the idea. Only 5.6% opposed it. Regulation of PAs and AAs Cited as a Major Issue The survey, conducted between 13 and 16 June, attracted 1539 BMA member responses. Professor Philip Banfield Highlighting the results on Monday at the association's annual representative meeting, chair of council Professor Philip Banfield said that a prominent source of dissatisfaction lay in the GMC's approach to regulating physician associates (PAs) and anaesthesia associates (AAs). Banfield said there is no national scope of practice or clear limits on what associates can do. The BMA had collected more than 600 'shocking examples' of unsafe practices by associates. These included the widespread prescribing of medicines, inappropriate referrals for ionising radiation, and cases of avoidable patient harm and death. "But in the face of mounting evidence, coroners' reports, and legal challenges, the NHS continues to bury its head in the sand and refuses to introduce the most rudimentary safety measures,' he said. In a scathing critique of the GMC's role as professional regulator, Banfield asked, 'Who the hell is charge?' In place of accountability, there is "just a dangerous game of pass the parcel where the music never stops', he told delegates. Banfield compared the blurring of lines between doctors and PAs to the failings of the Horizon IT system at the Post Office. He called for a public inquiry into the issue, with full statutory powers to hold those responsible to account. Joint Regulation Spurs Professional Boundary Concerns The BMA opposed the GMC becoming the joint statutory regulator for doctors and associates. This arrangement took effect in December 2024 despite opposition from many medical organisations. In April, the BMA lost a High Court challenge against the GMC's decision to issue a single set of professional standards for doctors and associates. The court ruled that the arrangement was 'logical and lawful'. The BMA branded it "irrational and misleading". The GMC duly updated its Fitness to Practise Rules to embrace doctors under the same standards as associates. Banfield told conference delegates that the result of joint regulation had been "incessant and unsafe blurring of professional boundaries that threaten the very foundations of practising medicine". BMA Calls for New Doctor-only Regulator The GMC has failed doctors and patients for too long, he said. The BMA is calling for a new independent regulator solely for doctors that is 'unburdened by the abject failure of what the GMC has become'. The new body must regain the profession's confidence, protect patients, treat doctors fairly, and place them at the heart of its decisions, he said. Banfield also urged the government to address doctor unemployment in the NHS 10-year plan. He highlighted ongoing issues with specialty bottlenecks causing resident doctor unemployment. This is "another debacle that the NHS and its paymasters have been aware of for years, but haven't lifted a finger to resolve, let alone taken any responsibility for", he said. GMC Response to Criticism A GMC spokesperson said: "We take our role working with doctors to support good, safe patient care very seriously. Our aim is to deliver effective, relevant and compassionate regulation.' The GMC welcomed the "much-needed" reform of the regulatory framework. "Making further changes to the way we work will continue to benefit patient safety and ensure the public has confidence in the doctors we regulate," the spokesperson added. Historical Criticisms of GMC's Performance Calls to replace the GMC as medical regulator are not new. A BMJ opinion article from November 2022 described it as " failing patients and doctors for 30 years ". Professor Aneez Esmail and Dr Sam Everington called the GMC a dysfunctional organisation that 'serves only itself". They criticised the GMC's handling of criticism as a ' performative masterclass ,' involving denial, citing lack of evidence, commissioning predictable research, and producing 'an endless series of reports so that it can wring its hands in false contrition and promise that change will come'. In a follow up opinion article Dr Kamran Abbasi, BMJ editor in chief, noted that despite repeated promises, past GMC leadership had failed to implement recommendations from multiple reviews and inquiries.
The Independent
23-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Why are doctors threatening strike action over a 4% pay rise?
Doctors are threatening strike action after getting a pay rise they claim does not go far enough to restore historical pay freezes. Ministers announced doctors would receive a pay rise of 4 per cent - which is above the rate of inflation. However, following the latest review of the public sector pay, other NHS workers will only receive a pay rise of 3.6 per cent - this includes nurses, healthcare assistants, midwives and physiotherapists. It comes after inflation rose from 2.6 per cent in March to 3.5 per cent in April, which is the highest level since January 2024. But ministers previously said they could only afford a rise of 2.8 per cent in 2025-26. Why are doctors threatening to strike? The British Medical Association (BMA) has said that although the pay rise is above inflation, it still 'failed to redress historic losses of pay' from the past 15 years. It explained that average earnings growth sits at around 6 per cent and stressed that 'all public sector workers deserve better.' Resident doctors will receive an extra £750 on top of the 4 per cent. The chair of BMA council, Professor Philip Banfield said: '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.' Professor Banfield has said Wes Streeting, the health secretary, must negotiate and start talking if he wants to head off an escalation in disputes and reverse the workforce crisis. Why are other NHS staff disappointed? It's not just doctors that are disappointed with the above inflation increase as Unison warns other NHS workers such as nurses, will feel less valued than their doctor colleagues with their 3.6 per cent pay rise. 'That will generate more discontent from an already demoralised workforce. 'So long as coffee shops, supermarkets and parcel delivery firms pay more than the NHS, staff will go on leaving,' Unison head of health Helga Pile said. NHS staff who are members of the GMB union and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) will be asked to vote on whether to accept the award. RCN general secretary and chief executive Professor Nicola Ranger warned the pay award was 'entirely swallowed up by inflation and does nothing to change the status quo – where nursing is not valued, too few enter it and too many quit'.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Doctors threaten strike action after 4% pay offer
Doctors in England are threatening strike action after they were handed a 4% pay rise. The British Medical Association (BMA), the union representing doctors, said the increase - effective from 1 April - was "derisory" and did not go far enough in reversing historical pay freezes. Meanwhile, the National Education Union (NEU) said it was likely to "register a dispute" with the government if it did not commit to fully funding the 4% pay rise for teachers in England. Health Secretary Wes Streeting defended the offers on Thursday, saying they were above inflation - the rate prices are rising. BMA council chairman Prof Philip Banfield said doctors' pay was still around a quarter less than it was 16 years ago, when taking account of inflation. He said the pay rise "takes us backwards, pushing pay restoration even further into the distance without a government plan or reassurance to correct this erosion of what a doctor is worth". Dr Banfield added that "no one wants a return to scenes of doctors on picket lines" but the government's actions had "sadly made this look far more likely".The BMA said it would ballot members next week over possible strike action. The Department of Health said resident doctors, formerly called junior doctors, would get an extra £750 top-up, taking their average pay rise to 5.4%. Resident doctors took part in 11 separate strikes during 2023 and 2024 as they had been arguing for a 35% increase to make up for 15 years of below-inflation pay were given rises worth an average of 22% over the last two years to bring an end to those strikes - and the BMA argues this year's pay award did not do enough to make up that remaining health unions reacted angrily after a smaller rise of 3.6% was announced for other NHS staff, including nurses, midwives and other front-line workers. The Royal College of Nursing said it was "grotesque" that nurses had been offered a smaller rise than doctors, which it said would be "entirely swallowed up" by price union plans to consult nurses on whether they are happy with the rise, or if they want to move forward with industrial action. If they back the latter, a formal strike ballot could be staff in Wales and Northern Ireland are likely to be given the same pay award, as the governments there have accepted the same recommendations. Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: "This government was never going to be able to fully reverse a decade and a half of neglect in under a year, but this year's pay increases - and last year's - represent significant progress in making sure that NHS staff are properly recognised for the outstanding work they do."Inflation unexpectedly rose to 3.5% in the year to April, with economic forecasters predicting a figure of 3.2% for this financial year. While education unions broadly welcomed the pay rise, they raised concerns it would only be partly covered by government. The education department has announced an additional £615m to cover the rises, but said schools would be asked to partially fund the awards through "improved productivity and smarter spending".Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU, the largest teaching union, said in many schools this would result in "cuts in service provision to children and young people, job losses, and additional workloads for an already overstretched profession".He added: "Unless the government commit to fully funding the pay rise then it is likely that the NEU will register a dispute with the government on the issue of funding, and campaign to ensure every parent understands the impact of a cut in the money available to schools, and that every politician understands this too."Kebede told the BBC his union would consult members over the offer, but he felt it would be "broadly acceptable" and that strike action was "very unlikely".The rises come after ministers accepted proposals from a series of pay review bodies, which are tasked with recommending pay awards for around 45% of people working in the public awards are higher than the 2.8% the Treasury previously budgeted for, with ministers saying most of the remainder will have to come from existing budgets. Labour ended long-running public sector strikes last summer by accepting recommended pay rises between 4.75% and 6% for last argued the move was required to stop damage to the economy - but it led to Conservative accusations they had lost control of public sector Argar, shadow health secretary, said: "We warned Labour that the unions would simply come back for more when they gave in to the strikes and agreed to above-inflation pay demands with no strings attached."Now, with the threat of renewed strikes once again casting a shadow over the NHS, that warning is becoming reality." Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.
North Wales Chronicle
22-05-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Doctors threaten strike action after 4% pay rise announcement
The British Medical Association (BMA), the union representing doctors, said the pay rise does not go far enough in restoring historical pay freezes. The National Education Union (NEU), the largest union for teachers, meanwhile threatened to 'register a dispute' with the Government unless it fully funds the 4% pay rise for teachers, part of which is currently due to be covered by existing school budgets. It has said it will look to campaign with parents for the Government to invest in education. Both professions in England will receive a 4% increase, according to statements released by ministers on Thursday afternoon, while other NHS workers will get 3.6%. NHS staff in Wales are also likely to be given the same pay award, as the Welsh Government has accepted the same recommendations. The increases, recommended by independent pay review bodies, are 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 it was already considering strike action, as the union believes 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. Other NHS workers in England, including nurses, midwives and physiotherapists among other frontline workers, will receive a 3.6% pay uplift, effective from April 1, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said. NHS staff who are members of the GMB union and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) will be asked to vote on whether to accept the award. RCN general secretary and chief executive Professor Nicola Ranger warned the pay award was 'entirely swallowed up by inflation and does nothing to change the status quo – where nursing is not valued, too few enter it and too many quit'. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the pay rise for teachers, which will also be awarded to school leaders, will only be partly covered by the Government. An additional £615 million of funding will be provided to schools this financial year to help them with the costs of pay awards for staff, she added, roughly equivalent to three quarters of the pay rise. Schools will be required to fund the remaining quarter of the pay rise through 'improved productivity and smarter spending', according to the Education Secretary. Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU, said in many schools this would result in 'cuts in service provision to children and young people, job losses, and additional workloads for an already overstretched profession'. He added: 'Unless the Government commit to fully funding the pay rise then it is likely that the NEU will register a dispute with the Government on the issue of funding, and campaign to ensure every parent understands the impact of a cut in the money available to schools, and that every politician understands this too.' Elsewhere, most members of the armed forces will be given a 4.5% pay rise, according to Defence Secretary John Healey, while senior members of the military will receive a 3.75% rise. Senior civil servants will get a 3.25% pay rise, according to the Cabinet Office, but ministers plan to defer rolling out new pay bands as part of a review of salaries among the upper echelons of the Civil Service. Prison officers and managers are also set to get a 4% pay rise, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said. Judicial office holders, a group which includes judges, will also get a 4% pay rise, after Ms Mahmood rejected a recommendation their pay should rise by 4.75%.
