Thousands of doctors in England will commence their 11th walkout on Thursday amidst an ongoing dispute with the government over pay and working conditions, causing disruptions to hospital services just days before the U.K. general election.
The five-day strike by junior doctors — those in the early years of their careers — casts a spotlight on the challenges facing the underfunded National Health Service (NHS), Britain’s state-funded public health system, a critical issue for voters heading to the polls on July 4.
Junior doctors, crucial to hospital and clinic operations, have been embroiled in the pay dispute with the government since late 2022. Their previous strike in January, lasting six days and the longest in NHS history, led to tens of thousands of cancelled appointments and operations.
The latest strike begins Thursday and concludes on Tuesday, just two days before voters elect a new House of Commons.
The British Medical Association, the doctors’ union, contends that their pay has decreased by a quarter over the past 15 years and is advocating for a 35% pay increase.
The union notes that newly qualified doctors earn around £15 ($19) an hour — significantly above the U.K. minimum wage of just over £10 an hour — although salaries rise rapidly after the first year.
Dr. Sumi Manirajan, deputy chair of the junior doctors committee at the union, expressed concerns over years of underinvestment leading to a significant exodus of young doctors to countries offering better compensation, leaving those remaining seriously overworked and underpaid.
“Doctors that I trained with in London, some of the best in the country, have left to go to New Zealand. And actually what it makes me think of is why am I not doing the same? I want to be valued for the work that I do,” she said.
Dr. Manirajan, a recent graduate specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, highlighted long waiting times for routine procedures, noting the distress of patients returning repeatedly with untreated conditions due to staffing shortages.
The Conservative government asserts it granted doctors pay raises ranging from 8.1% to 10.3% last year, describing it as a generous settlement. It cited restrictions on making further pay offers during the pre-election period, but the union declined to halt the strikes.
Dr. Manirajan criticized the timing of the election amidst unresolved disputes, stating it was regrettable that the government chose to call an election under such circumstances.
The doctors’ union indicated readiness for dialogue and has engaged in discussions with the opposition Labour Party, which holds a significant lead in polls.
“It is difficult to see how either the Conservative Party or the Labour Party can fulfill their manifesto pledges to restore NHS performance without first resolving this dispute,” commented Siva Anandaciva, chief analyst at The King’s Fund think tank.