By Harry Mottram: The RUH has issued advice and information ahead of the resident doctors strike set to begin at 7am on Friday 25 July and running until 7am on Wednesday 30 July, 2025. Talks with the health secretary collapsed when Wes Streeting did not agree to their demands for a wage hike to restore their salaries to 2008 levels which would be well above the rate of inflation.
In a statement the RUH said: “We are working hard to minimise the impact this action has on patients. During these strikes, all other NHS staff (including consultants and other specialist doctors) will still be working, and the focus of the NHS will be on ensuring as many services as possible continue to operate safely. If you have an appointment or procedure booked, please attend unless you hear from us. You do not need to call to check if your appointment is going ahead. We will be in touch with patients directly if we need to rearrange an appointment.”
The hospital also said the emergency department would remain open as usual for life-threatening emergencies but Urgent Care will not be staffed from 10pm until 8am. If you arrive late in the day, you may not be seen overnight they said. They added: “During industrial action there will be fewer doctors working than usual and they will need to prioritise lifesaving care. Waiting times may be longer than usual while we focus on treating our most seriously ill patients. A senior clinician will assess whether you have an emergency condition and should be seen in ED or whether you should return for a booked appointment the following day. If you have a minor illness or minor injury, local GP surgeries and pharmacies are open.”
If you have an urgent medical problem that is not an emergency and aren’t sure what to do, contact 111 first online or by phone – they will provide immediate medical advice and direct you to the best care for your needs.
In emergencies, call 999. Visiting times are not affected but the usual advice about not visiting if you have covid like symptoms stays in place.
Opinions are divided over the industrial action with Nick Triggle for the BBC reporting: “Prof Tim Briggs, who is a national director at NHS England and has been involved with talks with the BMA on strike planning, says while doctors have a right to strike it should never lead to patient harm – but it is now clear the walkouts by resident doctors will harm patients.”
And Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the strike is “unreasonable” after substantial pay rises in recent years. The British Medical Association (BMA), a trade union for doctors, says resident doctors’ pay will be 20% lower in real terms than it was in 2008, even after an increase in August reported the BBC. The broadcaster said the BMA wants pay for the group – who used to be known as junior doctors – to be brought back in line with the level it was at 17 years ago, when they say their pay started to be eroded.
This is where it gets more complicated by it does help to understand why there are two claims. The doctors’ claim is based on the Retail Price Index (RPI). This includes housing costs and shows higher price increases than some other inflation measures. The Government uses the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) to calculate inflation and pay increases. CPI looks at the cost of goods and services based on a basket of household items. The Nuffield Trust suggests pay has fallen 5% since 2008 if CPI is used, compared with nearly 20% for RPI. And there is the gap.
Image from the BBC.
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