Junior doctors are set to go on strike once again in Wales, with seven strike days planned over the coming months in two separate walk outs.
A three day, 72-hour walkout is planned for the end of February, followed by a four day, 96-hour walkout at the end of March if a new pay offer is not made by then. BMA Cymru Wales said the strikes have been planned "in the absence of a credible pay offer".
Junior doctors carried out 72 hours of strike action for the first time in Wales last month in a bid to demand pay restoration from the Welsh Government. Another 72-hour walk out will take place from Wednesday February 21, and the second, a 96-hour-full walkout from Monday, March 25.
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Junior doctors pay has been cut by almost 30% in real terms since 2008 levels. The Welsh Government offered doctors a 5% pay increase last year -the lowest in the UK and lower than recommended by the DDRB (the review body for Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration). For the latest health and Covid news, sign up to our newsletter here
Dr Oba Babs-Osibodu and Dr Peter Fahey co-chairs of BMA Cymru Wales’ junior doctors committee said: “After our last round of action, we wrote to the minister for health and social services, and we remain ready to enter discussions if a credible offer is presented by the Welsh Government.
“No doctor wants to strike, but whilst those in power fail to grasp the seriousness of the situation and the strength of feeling amongst our members we feel we have been left with no choice.
“We can no longer accept the unacceptable. After years of undervaluing our lifesaving service, our resolve has never been stronger. With record-high membership, we’re now a bigger, stronger union, and together we remain steadfast in our aim to restore our pay which has been cut by almost a third.
“A doctor starting their career in Wales will earn as little as £13.65* an hour and for that they could be performing lifesaving procedures and taking on huge levels of responsibility.
“We aren’t asking for a pay rise - we are asking for our pay to be restored in line with inflation back to 2008 levels, when we began to receive pay cuts in real terms. Pay needs to be fair and competitive with other healthcare systems across the world to retain and recruit doctors and NHS staff to provide much-needed care.
“On top of this junior doctors are experiencing worsening conditions because of significant gaps in the workforce and so more and more doctors are now looking to leave Wales to develop their careers for better pay and a better quality of life elsewhere”.
