The Guardian’s take on trainee doctors’ strikes: the first test of the next government | Editorial
JUniversity physicians deserve a raise. Entry requirements are among the most competitive of all professions, and even if healthcare weren’t on its knees, the early years of a medical career would be demanding. Caring for people who are sick or injured is difficult and the stakes are high. Under current circumstances, with huge waiting lists, labor shortages, a growing population of chronically ill people and, in some places, buildings that are not fit for purpose, it can be a tough job.
This month marks two years since the British Medical Association voted in favor of pay rises of up to 30% over five years. Consultants signed a deal with the government last year, just like nurses. But junior doctors, who make up around half of all NHS doctors in England, have persevered. In March, in a new vote, 98% chose to remain on strike in pursuit of a 35% pay increase, with a turnout of 62%. The five-day strike that started Thursday is their 11th. When this ends, they will have been on strike for a total of 44 days since they first took to the field in March last year. At least 1.3 million canceled appointments are among the results.
The name junior doctor is a misnomer. Doctors in Britain are ‘junior’ until they become consultants, with up to eight years of specialist training on top of two years of basic training and five years of medical training. The starting salary of £32,398 is about average for college graduates. But the roughly 9% pay increase awarded last year (depending on experience) was not enough in the light of the 26% real pay cut they have experienced over the past fourteen years. Because doctors in training tend to be young adults and are less likely to be homeowners than older people, many face rent increases that continue to outpace wage growth, as well as other cost-of-living pressures. Some have talked about delaying starting families.
By standing firm, trainee doctors have shown that striking for a 35% pay rise does not have to alienate the public. But they have little notice of this, because they have ended up in a stalemate with the ministers. During the election campaign there was no one to negotiate with, and Labour’s Wes Streeting asked them to postpone this week’s strike to avoid further cancellations. By refusing to do so, the doctors have struck an uncompromising tone before the next round of negotiations.
Their demand has always been a phased increase. a letter sent to the Prime Minister by trainee physician leaders last week reiterated this. If Labor wins the election, resolving the dispute will be one of the most urgent tasks. Given public concerns about the healthcare system, which has not yet recovered from the pandemic, the pressure is on. But doctors are far from the only civil servants seeking better service conditions. Teachers and others have seen their real pay fall, while better pay for social workers is a Labor manifesto promise. Mr Streeting has already said he wants to avoid setting a precedent for other unions to demand big pay rises, and hopes the prospect of a reset in relations with ministers will convince doctors to moderate their claims.
A disgruntled workforce with too many gaps is not the only problem facing the NHS. But progress on waiting lists, or anything else, will be impossible unless the staffing situation is improved. For the next government, the ability to strike a deal with doctors promises to be a crucial early test.