Nearly 50,000 junior doctors across England are taking part in a four-day strike in what is believed to be “the most disruptive industrial action in NHS history” - and we asked Mirror readers what they thought of the news.
An estimated 350,000 appointments, including operations, have been cancelled, with NHS bosses warning that patient care is on “a knife-edge” and “very fragile” because of the mass walk out. This comes as the British Medical Association (BMA) continues to campaign for pay restoration, with the union stating junior doctors in England have seen a 26 per cent real-terms pay cut since 2008/09 because pay rises have been below inflation, with some being paid as little as just £14 an hour.
The union is demanding a full pay restoration that the government said would amount to a 35 percent pay rise - which ministers have claimed is unaffordable. Health Secretary Steve Barclay described the timing of the strikes as "regrettable", and said that his "door is open" for talks - but described the 35 percent pay rise as "not reasonable".
Dr Vivek Trivedi, a junior doctors’ leader in the union, said: “We don’t want to have to go on strike, we want to be able to sort this out reasonably. All Mr Barclay has to do is put a credible offer on the table which shows he is serious about addressing the more than 26 per cent real-terms pay cut that doctors have endured.”
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We asked Mirror readers if they supported the junior doctors going on strike, and 66 percent said ‘Yes’. A total of 1,886 people took part in our poll, and around 1,237 respondents are in support of the industrial action.
Voters shared their opinions in the comments section, with one person writing: “I fully support them, if it was not for the fresh knowledge and quick thinking of Junior Doctors I would have been dead 10 years ago. £14 an hour is not a good wage especially for the very long hours they do and do not forget they train for I believe a minimum of 7 years and then further years for specialism and will be paying a huge student debt back.
“Yes they sign an oath to do no harm and care for the sick, but how can they do no harm when they are exhausted and having to do X amount of overtime just to pay their rent, especially in London.”
Another added: "Yes, I wholeheartedly support JD's strike! Their amazing work should be recognised and rewarded accordingly and fairly! Fat cats in all sectors, NHS included, are earning out of this world salaries plus perks we can't dream of, but front line people, Junior Doctors included, are left to survive on peanuts. It's time for a change! FAIR PAY FOR EVERYONE!”
A third person said: “Absolutely 100%, I support the Junior Doctors strike they are being paid very poorly for a prestige position, our lives are in their hands, the tories want to sell off the precious NHS."
A forth posted: “£14 ph is a rubbish wage for someone who has spent so long at university to get a medical degree, they deserve to be paid a decent wage.”
A fifth person echoed: “For weeks on end they also do 12 hr shifts with 4 hours off, have to sleep in the noisy hospital, then might have a bit of trouble inserting that cannula. They don't go home to mum and dad at 5pm every day to a nice hot meal and a wakeup from mum the next day with sausages and eggs before a 9am start. You get sick or injured in the night - who do you think is going to be there to make you feel better."
Meanwhile, 34 percent of voters were not in support of the strike and took to the comments to back their reasoning, with one person sharing: “No I do not agree, 35% is a huge increase, now or any time. Before they start studying to become a doctor/consultant they must have an ‘idea’ what sort of wage they will be earning, it’s the same in any job, you have to work up the ladder, so the more experience you have, the more you are going to earn.”
A second wrote: “No I don't support their strike. They are junior and why shouldn't they get respective pay for such. Pay them more by all means as long as you raise all minimum wages to the same. Or you are paying them knowledge pay not position pay.”
Another person expressed: “I don't support these junior doctors for striking ! They know the years it takes to become a doctor, the hours and the pay. They are supposed to be dedicated to saving people's lives but striking could actually end up with patients dying.”
While a forth stated: “Strikers are people with zero perspective and zero objectivity. Unions originally came about to apparently help the less able and less well off. And yet objectively, employers will fight the war and everyone suffers. Employees should go elsewhere. If people don't like the pay, go elsewhere, in this case there are plenty of other options. Just stop causing havoc and chaos.”
Do YOU agree with the poll results? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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