2LT International News

LONDON, UK: Senior doctors in England have reached a consensus to accept an enhanced offer from the government regarding pay and working conditions, marking a significant development in alleviating strain on Britain’s National Health Service following months of disruptive strike actions.

The British Medical Association trade union announced last week that approximately 83 percent of senior doctors, also referred to as consultants, voted in favor of the offer, with a turnout of 62 percent.

While a separate prolonged dispute with junior doctors, who staged five days of strikes in February, remains ongoing, the acceptance of the new offer by senior doctors signifies progress in addressing grievances within the healthcare sector.

Over the past two years, strike actions have exacerbated pressure on the NHS, resulting in the accumulation of more than seven million patients on waiting lists for hospital treatment and the cancellation of numerous appointments and procedures.

The resolution of the consultant strike action has been welcomed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, particularly in an election year where his Conservatives face significant challenges from the opposition Labour Party in opinion polls.

Sunak said, “The cessation of consultant strike action within the NHS is a positive development for patients. It will enable us to continue advancing towards our objective of reducing waiting lists, which have witnessed a decline for the fourth consecutive month.”

The new pay agreement for senior doctors includes modifications to a doctors’ pay review body and provides a 2.85 percent increase for consultants who have served for four to seven years. This agreement follows the rejection of a previous offer by senior doctors in a close vote in January.

“After enduring years of declining real-terms wages, exacerbated by government intervention and shortcomings in the pay review process, consultants have voiced their sentiments and evidently believe that this offer represents a significant initial step in addressing our concerns and resolving the current dispute,” said Vishal Sharma, chair of the BMA consultants committee.