Junior doctors in England are set to stage four days of strike action – leading to confusion on whether junior doctors in Scotland are also taking part in industrial action.
In their coverage, various media outlets have discussed the impact that this will have on Britain’s health services – however, Scotland is not affected by this strike action.
Comparable to other countries, junior doctors in the UK are paid much less.
— Dr Mike 😷 (@EmergMedDr) April 10, 2023
Are they really worth less in the 6th largest economy in the world?#JuniorDoctorsStrike pic.twitter.com/rGI2yWoYMY
One man, whose close friend was waiting on an urgent scan and was “apprehensive” due to the doctors’ strike in England, said that: “It can be very difficult to find articles which actually say that NHS Scotland will operate normally this week”.
Why aren't junior doctors striking in Scotland?
While no immediate action is planned, junior doctors in Scotland are currently voting on strike action amid a pay dispute with the Scottish Government.
The strike action ballet will run for just over five weeks, and close on 5 May.
Members will decide whether or not to stage a 72-hour walkout.
The British Medical association (BMA) Scotland stated that junior doctors had faced a real-terms pay cut of 23.5% since 2008.
The organisation also said the current pay uplift of 4.5% would be outstripped by inflation and that they fear pay erosion will be “even worse” by the end of the year.
READ MORE: BMA Scotland warns of 'mass exodus' of junior doctors
The Scottish Government said the pay demands were “simply unaffordable” unless cuts were made to the NHS and other public services.
Dr Chris Smith – committee chairman of the BMA Scottish junior doctors – said some junior doctors in Scotland were earning a basic salary that equalled roughly £14 an hour.
Meanwhile, junior doctors in England are calling for a 35% pay rise – after the BMA said that previous below-inflation wage increases had caused a recruitment crisis.
Tomorrow junior doctors across England will start round two of our strike action to restore our pay. Don't go to work, don't cross a picket line. Stick together, fight together, win together. See you on the picket lines! #JuniorDoctorsStrike #PayRestoration #JuniorDoctors pic.twitter.com/gahZJ6fwuf
— Junior Doctors (@BMA_JuniorDocs) April 10, 2023
A survey by the BMA of junior doctors in Scotland found more than 40% are “actively researching” leaving the NHS – while almost 80% expect to have to take on a second job this year to help pay their bills.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel