Thousands of British medical assistants are going on a four-day strike today to demand better wages. According to the British health service NHS, up to 350,000 appointments will be postponed due to the action.
“It is the most disruptive mobilization in NHS history and the strikes will create tremendous pressure,” said NHS Medical Director for England, Stephen Powis. “Urgent and critical care will be given priority, but some patients will unfortunately have to reschedule.”
In March, physician assistants also went on strike for three days, impacting 175,000 appointments. Medical assistants or ‘junior doctors’ represent about half of hospital doctors in the UK.
The BMA union, which represents the young doctors, says doctors have lost 26 percent of their wages since 2008, when cuts were imposed on health services. The union is demanding a 35 percent wage increase, which Health Secretary Steve Barclay calls “unrealistic”.
The NHS is in deep crisis due to budget cuts and the impact of the corona pandemic. There have been regular strikes since the beginning of the year. Other sectors also repeatedly went on strike for higher wages to compensate for high inflation.
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