THE representative for junior doctors at Salisbury Hospital has said that the government has not stuck to its agreement over pay increases. 

It comes after the MP for Salisbury John Glen said he did not support the industrial action due to the impact on patient care. 

The doctor strikes, which began on April 11 and will continue until April 15, have seen Salisbury Hospital face several disruptions across the week.

Mr Glen said: “While I sympathise with the issues facing junior doctors, I do not support the upcoming industrial action because of the impact on patient care. 

“The Government is encouraging the BMA's Junior Doctors Committee to approach talks constructively for the sake of the public and its own members.”

Salisbury Journal:

In his statement, Mr Glen said that according to the current multi-year deal, all junior doctor pay scales will have increased by eight percent along with £90 million being invested to reform the contract, including the creation of a new, higher pay point to recognise the most experienced doctors in training. 

This package also provides funding to enhance eligibility for night pay and a new £1,000 a year allowance to support training doctors working less than full time.

William Phipps, 31, BMA’s representative at the Salisbury hospital picket line, in response to Mr Glen said: “He quotes the eight percent pay rise which is part of a deal agreed in 2019 which is a two percent pay rise over four years but the caveat to that deal was the government would renegotiate if there was a significant economic change in the country. 

“They’ve not stuck to that agreement and that’s why we’re here. If they had come to the table and had that chat with us, we may not have had to be here.”

The strike, organised by the BMA, which represents around 50,000 junior doctors, has said the strikes aim to achieve full pay restoration, reversing the steep decline in pay faced by junior doctors since 2008/9. 

They are also aiming to create an agreement to prevent future declines against cost of living and inflation and to reform the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body process so pay increases can be recommended independently and fairly to safeguard recruitment and retention of junior doctors. 

Dr Phipps said: “We’re for full pay restoration and 35 per cent pay rise, which sounds like a lot but it’s only a lot because we’ve had such a huge pay cut. No one else in the public sector has had a pay cut except consultants.”

Any doctor below consultant level is referred to as ‘junior’ meaning they encompass doctors just starting in the NHS and training for many years for specialist positions. 

Dr Phipps said: “The support has been amazing, we’re getting lots of beeps with coffees dropped off by members of the public along with chocolates, it’s been really encouraging to see the support is there.”