Hundreds of striking trainee doctors gathered on the steps of the Welsh Parliament in Cardiff to accuse Labor of driving doctors out of the NHS in Wales by failing to pay them properly and undermining the much-loved institution that is perhaps the nation’s greatest achievement. party.
An estimated 600 doctors, taking part in a three-day strike, expressed anger at the Labor government’s refusal to increase pay offers, with many threatening to leave the country if their demands were not met.
The Welsh Government said the strike, the first ever full stoppage of doctors in training in Wales, has so far resulted in 30% of planned procedures or operations being postponed and almost half of outpatient appointments rescheduled. Thirteen of Wales’ 19 hospitals were at “red level”, the busiest level.
Welsh ministers have said the 5% pay rise they have offered is in line with other workers in the Welsh NHS and is already “on the edge” of what they can afford. They accuse the British government of not making enough money available for public services.
But the doctors’ union BMA Cymru Wales claims wages have been ‘eroded’ by almost a third since 2008-09 and is worse than that in England and Scotland.
On the steps of the Senedd, young doctors described their fear of having to strike but said they were determined to get ‘fair’ pay rises. Some held up signs saying a doctor starting his career in Wales will earn just £13.65 an hour. Others suggested they were planning to leave for Australia. A sign said the Welsh Government’s controversial 20mph speed limit saved 10 lives every year, while trainee doctors saved thousands of lives.
One of the doctors, Hywel Rhys Williams, 30, a junior registrar in Llanelli, south Wales, said: “I love my job but paying doctors in Wales is not good enough.” He started working as a cleaner in the hospital before attending medical school and working as a junior doctor in Wales. He spent three years in Australia before returning.
“I’m proud to be from Llanelli. I want to stay in Llanelli, but I have to constantly battle with the thought that I know I can get better pay in England, and certainly in Australia. I was only able to buy a house here because I went to Australia. That is a regrettable state of affairs.”
Williams said he felt uncomfortable protesting against a Labor government. “The NHS is a gem and classically Labor is seen as the party of the NHS.”
Hannah Wise, 27, works at the South Wales Health Board, named after the architect of the NHS Aneurin Bevan.
She said: “Today’s doctors are not worth a third less than the doctors of 2008.” Wise claimed the cuts jeopardized patient care. “The conditions are so bad. On a normal day, I go to see patients who have waited more than 10 hours in the emergency room. They will wait another 10 hours for a bed. Multiple operations are canceled every day, not just on strike days, due to bed conditions and schedule differences. The majority of my friends from university have already gone to Australia. They seem so much happier, more appreciated and better paid.”
Thomas Grother, 30, a GP at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in his home town of Llantrisant, South Wales, said many of his medical friends had left for Australia and New Zealand. “I am very sorry that I am going on strike. I was supposed to work a twilight shift today – from 2pm to 10pm – and see patients arriving from the emergency department. I want to be at work, but the government leaves us no choice. The 5% offer felt like a kick in the teeth.”
Speaking at a press conference, Welsh Health Minister Eluned Morgan said a higher wage offer was impossible without additional funding from the UK government.
She said: “We fully understand the strength of feeling behind the strike action. But our funding scheme, much of which comes from the UK Government in the form of a block grant, is simply not sufficient to recognize the demands placed on doctors in training. The UK government has failed to properly fund public services.”