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The hugely damaging walkouts by junior doctors have cost the NHS around \u00a31billion this year.<\/p>\n
Ministers urged the British Medical Association to halt its latest strike \u2013 the fifth so far \u2013 amid growing acrimony over the long-standing pay dispute.<\/p>\n
But Dr Robert Laurenson, co-chairman of the junior doctors\u2019 committee at BMA, said the Conservative government in Westminster was \u201chell-bent on using the rigged independent pay review bodies to suppress our pay\u201d.<\/p>\n
Junior doctors in Scotland called off a planned strike last month after a new pay offer from the SNP-led government for a 12.4 per cent pay increase next year and a 4.5 per cent increase this year.<\/p>\n
Asked if he could accept that kind of deal in England, Dr Laurenson said: \u201cNo, because the governments are very different.<\/p>\n
\u201c[With] the Scottish government, there\u2019s a basis to work forwards and have a working relationship to negotiate in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
READ MORE: <\/strong> Rishi Sunak gives blunt ultimatum to striking doctors- This is our final pay off<\/strong><\/p>\n A source close to Health Secretary Steve Barclay hit back: \u201cTheir mask has slipped.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a clear admission from the BMA junior doctors\u2019 leadership that their strikes are part of a politically-motivated campaign aimed at bringing down the Government.<\/p>\n \u201cThis action is not in the interests of ordinary doctors in training or of patients.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are delivering a fair pay award averaging 8.8 per cent for doctors in training with 10.3 per cent for the lowest earners. The BMA should end strikes immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n Scores of placard-wielding junior doctors staged a rally outside Downing Street as members of the BMA began their four-day \u00adwalkout. A stage was set up and the song Vossi Bop by Stormzy \u2013 which features the lyrics \u201c**** the Government and **** Boris\u201d \u2013 was played over the speakers.<\/p>\n Junior doctors are seeking a salary hike of 35 per cent.<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> It comes as almost 835,000 appointments have been cancelled or postponed as a result of industrial action since December in England, according to NHS figures.<\/p>\n Sir Julian Hartley, chief executive of NHS Providers, warned the figure could close in on one million following this month\u2019s strikes by junior medics and consultants and a potential further two-day strike by consultants next month.<\/p>\n Sir Julian warned trusts \u201ccould be close to a tipping point\u201d after official data showed the NHS waiting list had climbed to a record high of 7.6 million in June.<\/p>\n Some of those taking to the picket line yesterday only started working for the NHS nine days ago, having newly graduated.<\/p>\n Mr Barclay urged the BMA to end the strike and accept the pay deal. He said: \u201cI am concerned about the impact on patients. We have accepted in full the recommendations of the independent pay review body.\u201d<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n Rishi Sunak said the deal, announced last month for 2023\/24, was the Government\u2019s \u201cfinal offer\u201d. Nurses, paramedics and other NHS staff received a five per cent rise and \u201cbacklog bonus\u2019.<\/p>\n It means from 2023\/24 junior doctors will earn from \u00a332,000 and up to \u00a363,000, for the most senior. But Dr Laurenson said: \u201cHe\u2019s not at home, he\u2019s in Disneyland, and he needs to come back to the real world.\u201d<\/p>\n The BMA has more than 180,000 members. The other doctors\u2019 union is the Hospital Consultants & Specialists Association.<\/p>\n Dr Vivek Trivedi of the BMA said to protesters: \u201cFor 15 years the Government has undervalued us, they\u2019ve ignored us, they\u2019ve abused us, they\u2019ve exploited us and they\u2019ve inflicted pay cut after pay cut after pay cut.\u201d<\/p>\n
Seven out of ten say doctor strikes put patients in danger[EXCLUSIVE] <\/strong>
Pay offer is fair so docs must call off damaging strikes, says TIM NEWARK[COMMENT] <\/strong>
POLL: Do you support senior NHS doctors going on strike?[POLL] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/4905194.jpg?r=1691782994814\")
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