Doctors and general practitioners strike in England “for the first time”
In England, specialist doctors, general practitioners and physician assistants, who have long been in conflict with the government over pay rises, stopped working on the same day for the “first time”.
While approximately 24 thousand specialist doctors in the country yesterday began a two-day strike, today 61 thousand general and auxiliary doctors began a three-day work stoppage. Thus, for the first time in the history of the country, specialist doctors, general practitioners and assistants went on strike together on the same day.
It was reported that during the doctors’ strike only emergency services will be provided.
The decision to strike by specialists and general practitioners on the same day sparked comments that the pay dispute between the government and health workers was escalating.
Specialist doctors, demanding a higher-than-inflation increase, are going on strike for the third time this year, and general and junior doctors, demanding a 35 percent pay rise, are going on strike for the sixth time.
THERE IS UNITY AMONG ALL DOCTORS
Doctors members of the British Medical Association (BMA), who have stopped working due to the ongoing dispute with the government over pay increases, held a demonstration outside the University College Hospital (UCL) in the capital, London.
With banners reading “Applause does not pay the bills”, “Regulate doctors’ salaries” and “Protect the future of the health system”, specialists and general practitioners asked the Government for a “fair and reasonable” salary increase.
Speaking at the fair, BMA representative Dr Arjan Singh claimed that there has been a 26 per cent cut in payments to doctors in the last 15 years and said: “Therefore, we are going on strike to reverse the payment cut.”
Stating that the government has already offered an 8 per cent hike to doctors, Singh said: “This is far below what it should be. “We want doctors to earn £20 an hour, and this is a very reasonable demand,” he said.
Singh continued his words as follows:
“(The massive doctors’ strike) I think it shows unity among all the doctors who are in the workforce right now. Here there are not only general doctors, not only specialist doctors. We are all here together. “What we defend here is just a profession.”
GOVERNMENT REJECTS NEGOTIATIONS
BMA Committee Member Dr. Sumi Manirajan also commented that the reason doctors had to intensify their work stoppages was because the government refused to negotiate.
Manirajan said: “The last time a government minister met us was 140 days ago. We ask them to meet and negotiate with us. “I believe this is the only way to end this conflict.” saying.
Thousands of the country’s medical specialists went on strike for the first time in 50 years, holding a 48-hour work stoppage on July 20 over disagreement with the government over pay increases and working conditions. (AA)