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The statement made by Victoria Atkins, the health secretary, has caused anger as she seemed to be mocking junior doctors by referring to them as “doctors in training”.
The Conservative government official hinted at the possibility of a better proposal regarding salary and working conditions during the second day of the 72-hour strike by junior doctors.
However, Ms. Atkins faced backlash for “insulting” young doctors by using her own terminology when discussing salary negotiations that had been made with other employees within the healthcare system.
The final group consists of junior doctors, also known as doctors in training. To my disappointment, they left our negotiations and proceeded to initiate these strikes.
Labour Member of Parliament Chris Bryant swiftly responded to the health secretary on X, stating, “They are doctors, not trainee doctors.”
Although junior doctors receive some clinical training while on the job, they are fully qualified doctors and the term “doctors in training” is not commonly used in the NHS.
Many people on social media described Ms Atkins’ comments as “offensive”. Professor Colin Talbot, an expert in public policy from the University of Manchester, replied on X: “I am rarely at a loss for words, but using the term ‘doctors in training’ is just ridiculous.”
The newly appointed communications head for the Labour party, Alastair Campbell, described the statement as “absurd” and implied a strong dislike for employees who bear the majority of the workload in the NHS.
Victoria Atkins, the health secretary, suggested that a better proposal regarding salary and working conditions may be presented.
Ms Atkins brought attention to divisions among leaders of junior doctors within the British Medical Association (BMA) and other employees of the National Health Service (NHS). She stated that some were feeling uneasy about the planned strike during the Christmas period.
The health secretary suggested that there may be a better proposal for pay and working conditions if the junior doctors end their strike.
On BBC Breakfast, she stated that the health department’s ministers and officials would reconvene within 20 minutes for discussions if the strikes are cancelled. She added that this would allow them to assess how much progress can be made.
A walkout across England lasting 72 hours, starting at 7am on December 20 and continuing until Saturday, is taking place amidst the NHS facing one of its most challenging winters to date. This will be followed by another six-day walkout starting on January 3rd.
The National Health Service has announced that emergency and urgent care will have priority during the holiday strikes, but “nearly all” routine care will experience disruptions.
According to The Times, the strikes are expected to result in over 300,000 cancelled operations and appointments. This could potentially increase the current NHS waiting list, which is at 7.7 million, to over eight million for the first time.
Hospital administrators are witnessing their worst fears come true as they struggle to handle an increasing number of individuals seeking assistance for winter illnesses, specifically norovirus.
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Junior doctors who belong to the British Medical Association are currently on strike in London.
Ms. Atkins expressed to BBC Radio 4’s Today that there are numerous doctors who may feel uneasy about their committee’s decision to call for strikes at this particular moment.
She mentioned that consultants, nurses, and other physicians will be working additional shifts. The junior doctors’ committee expects them to cover the gaps left by the strikes.
“After experiencing three consecutive Christmases during the Covid pandemic, I believe that we all hoped for a peaceful and stable Christmas this year. However, this strike action is disrupting that hope.”
The junior doctors’ committee of the BMA has issued a challenge to the government to present an offer before any strikes can be called off.
The government’s offer, an increase of 3% from January, along with the recommended 9% increase from the independent pay review body in April, was deemed insufficient to compensate for below-inflation pay raises since 2008.
The government has been requested to fully restore pay, which they claim would result in a 35% increase, but ministers have deemed it too expensive. The conciliation service Acas has offered to assist in resolving the conflict.
In other places, Ms. Atkins has reached out to the organizations responsible for suggesting salary increases for NHS employees to start preparing for the 2024/25 pay cycle – however, unions cautioned that she had waited too long.
The source of this information is the independent.co.uk website.
