Top medics ask union to row back hard stance on doctors’ strikes, warning they risk patient safety
Medics issue patient safety warning over union’s approach to strikes
- Top medics have urged the British Medical Association (BMA) to suspend its guidance advising doctors not to disclose strike plans to employers.
- The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges said that withholding this information risks patient safety as it makes it extremely difficult for health service leaders to maintain adequate patient care.
- Resident doctors are set to begin a five-day strike on Friday after pay talks with the government broke down, with the BMA seeking a 29 per cent pay rise.
- Hospital leaders anticipate having to cancel some operations and appointments, despite NHS England's mandate to continue routine care, with one A&E in Cheltenham considering reducing services.
- The health secretary, Wes Streeting, described the strike action as “completely unjustified”, while the BMA argues the government’s pay offer is insufficient.