Royal Bolton Hospital doctors part of three-day joint strike

NHS doctors from across the UK are on their first day of a 72 hour strike today, Monday, October 2, as they fight for better pay.

Members of the British Medical Association (BMA), the trade union for doctors in the UK, are picketing until Thursday, with both sets of staff on 'Christmas Day' levels of staffing during the walk out.

BMA heads have said that doctors are 'fed up' of being labelled the problem.

Joseph Williams, a junior doctor at Royal Bolton Hospital, said: "We are striking, both  junior doctors and consultants, because we’ve had a real terms pay cut of over a quarter since 2008. That’s a huge pay cut, for doing a vital job that has only increased in complexity and responsibility over the same time.

"Doctors have been leaving the profession and the UK in droves, due to this pay cut and poor working conditions, resulting in increased waiting times for patients and pressure on the NHS.

"We’re striking together, as one profession, because the government has not engaged meaningfully with this pay issue, refusing to negotiate with us, and instead choosing to impose a sub-inflationary pay rise which still leaves doctors worse off than last year.

"We’re not asking for a pay rise, just restoration to what our pay used to be."

He continued: "Striking together is a big escalation, but it’s a reminder that we are a united profession.

"The junior doctors of today are the consultants of tomorrow, and we share the same issues and concerns.

"I’ve had a lot of conversations with doctors and consultants in Bolton about their worries about the future of the NHS, about the stressful working conditions, of the determination to do right by our patients. We all want a system that provides great care for patients, and looks after its staff."

Junior doctors at a strike in June (Image: NQ)

As doctors strike, the Conservative Party conference is taking place at the Manchester Central Convention Complex in Manchester city centre.

Joseph continued: "Doctors from all over England will be demonstrating outside the Conservative Party conference in Manchester tomorrow, including many doctors working in Bolton.

"Our message to the conference is simple: we want pay restoration, and we’re prepared to keep striking until a meaningful deal is made. We want a functional NHS - this is how we achieve it.

"To those who say that doctors earn enough, or say that we don’t care about our patients: we care very deeply about our patients, and that’s why we’re striking. You can’t expect to run a high quality healthcare system with expert doctors leading it, without paying them appropriately for their skills and knowledge.

"If you took a pay cut of a quarter of your salary would you do nothing? Or would you look at other jobs? Many consultants and doctors could earn more in the private sector, but they don’t want to - they believe in the NHS, and want it to work, but are being driven out by poor conditions and pay.

"As an A&E doctor myself, we are constantly understaffed and overwhelmed. If we’re to provide good healthcare for the people of Bolton, we need to retain doctors within the NHS."

Royal Bolton Hospital issued advice to patients last week ahead of the strikes. 

Rae Wheatcroft, Chief Operating Officer at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We’re doing everything we can to minimise disruption during industrial action by using our well-tested plans to keep urgent services running with Christmas Day cover. 

“If your appointment needs to be rescheduled a member of the team will be in touch to let you know. If you haven’t been contacted, then please continue to attend your appointment as normal.

“During this busy period please remember to support your local NHS by choosing the most appropriate service for your health needs.

“Our Emergency Department is here in life and limb-threatening emergencies, but if your condition is non-urgent consider visiting your GP, pharmacist or using NHS 111 online for advice on the best place to find help.

“We would like to thank everyone for their continued patience and support.”