Speaking from a picket line outside St Thomas’ Hospital in London, BMA resident doctor leader Dr Jack Fletcher said that “we’re here yet again, on a picket line, because we have not yet reached a credible deal to fix this absurd jobs crisis”.
“What we’re not asking for is a huge stonking pay rise in one go,” Dr Fletcher told BBC’s Today programme.
“No-one has ever asked for anything double digit overnight, no-one has ever asked for anything in one go overnight. What we’re asking for is to stop these real-time pay cuts that the government are recommending for doctors.”
Asked about recent polling that suggests public support for the strikes is declining, he said: “I do care what my patients think but I didn’t sign up to give that care in a corridor.”
In the two most recent strikes – in July and November – NHS England said it was able to keep the majority of non-urgent operations and treatments, such as hip and knee replacements, going.
But NHS England said it expected more disruption this time. Concern has also been expressed that hospitals may struggle to discharge patients in time for Christmas as the doctors who are working concentrate on providing strike cover.
Medical director Prof Meghana Pandit said the strikes came “at an immensely challenging time for the NHS”, with record numbers of patients in hospital with flu for this time of year.
She said more patients were likely to feel the impact of this round of strikes than the previous two, adding that staff who are covering for those striking would not get a Christmas break with their families.
Streeting added: “We have been working right up to today to try and avert these strike actions.
“Everyone knows the period leading up to Christmas and into the New Year are always the busiest for the NHS. With super flu, this year is harder.
“And that double whammy of flu plus strikes means that there is an additional burden now on other NHS staff.”
NHS England said GP practices will continue to be open and urgent and emergency care services will be available for those who need them.
But even then there is likely to be some disruption. Cheltenham General Hospital’s emergency department is closing for emergencies during the strike – it will remain open for minor injuries – with patients advised to use nearby Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.
NHS England said the public should use 111 online, external as the first port of call for urgent, but not life-threatening issues during the strike.
Patients who need emergency medical care should continue to use 999 or come forward to A&E as normal, it added.
The strike is going ahead despite a new offer from the government being made last week, which included increasing the number of speciality training posts and covering out-of-pocket expenses like exam fees.
Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospital and ambulance services, said the strikes are “like having the worst possible Groundhog Day”.
“But unlike the film this is real, so thousands of patients are going to have their operations and procedures postponed or cancelled,” he told BBC Breakfast.
He added that the “increasingly acrimonious dispute” feels like it’s as “far away from being resolved as it ever has been”.
However, he added that patients will still be safe in hospital and that people should attend appointments unless informed otherwise.
