Health service - Resident doctors strike for several days in England
In England, junior doctors have begun the longest strike in the history of the NHS health service. The strike is set to last six days. The doctors want to push for better pay. The healthcare system is facing a stress test.
"It is the longest strike we have ever faced," the head of the Association of NHS Providers, Julian Hartley, told the BBC. The majority of operations would have to be postponed. In addition, Christmas and New Year's Eve are always particularly busy. The strike should last from Wednesday until next Tuesday morning.
The chronically underfunded and understaffed NHS has been repeatedly rocked by waves of strikes for months. The government had promised an average pay rise of 8.8 percent last year, according to the PA news agency. The doctors rejected this as insufficient. "Junior doctors" make up a significant proportion of medical staff in England. This refers to doctors in training - they may have just completed their studies or have been working for the NHS for years.
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The ongoing strike by junior doctors in England is causing significant disruptions to the country's health service, which is already struggling due to underfunding and understaffing. The impact of the six-day strike is expected to be particularly severe during Christmas and New Year's Eve, traditionally some of the busiest times for hospitals. The doctors' union is dissatisfied with the proposed 8.8% pay rise promised by the government, arguing it is insufficient. This situation has raised concerns about the overall quality of medicine and healthcare in Great Britain, particularly in the outstanding NHS system.
Amidst this, the UK government is also facing increasing pressure to address tariff-related issues, as trade negotiations and potential changes could affect various sectors, including medicine and healthcare. The strike and the potential tariff changes add another layer of complexity to the health and wellbeing of the residents of London and beyond, emphasizing the need for comprehensive planning and policy-making.
Source: www.stern.de
