Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministerial Statement

Junior Doctors’ Strikes

30 March 2023 · 11 other contributors

Opened by Steve Barclay Con North East Cambridgeshire

NHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Steve Barclay raised concerns about junior doctors’ strikes in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Junior doctors plan a four-day walkout starting in May 2023.
  • During a previous strike, 181,000 appointments had to be rescheduled.
  • NHS England prioritises essential services but cannot fully mitigate patient harm risk.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Government Statement

Steve Barclay

I am grateful to the hon. Member for Ilford North (Wes Streeting) for his question on the planned four-day walkout by junior doctors, starting in May. During a previous strike earlier this month, 181,000 appointments had to be rescheduled, causing significant disruption and risk to patient care. NHS England has prioritised essential services including emergency treatment, critical care, maternity care, neonatal care and trauma, but it cannot fully mitigate the risk of patient harm during a four-day walkout coinciding with public holidays and Ramadan. I have invited the British Medical Association (BMA) and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association to enter formal talks on pay, conditional upon them cancelling strike action. However, the BMA’s junior doctors committee's demand for a 35% pay increase is unreasonable at this time of economic pressure. Despite this, we remain committed to finding a settlement that recognises the important work of junior doctors within the NHS.

Other contributors (11)
  • Wes Streeting Lab Ilford North

    Question

    More than 300,000 operations and appointments have been cancelled since December. The strikes planned for next month will be longer with no derogations planned. Patients are terrified about their safety during these strikes and consultants fear that patients may die as a result. When is the Health Secretary going to engage junior doctors seriously in talks? What is the Government's position on the BMA’s demand for a 35% pay increase?

    Minister reply

    We have invited the BMA and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association to enter formal talks, conditional upon them cancelling strike action. However, the demand for a 35% pay increase from the junior doctors committee is unreasonable at this time of economic pressure. The Government has taken a constructive approach by reaching agreement with other trade unions under 'Agenda for Change', covering more than 1 million staff in the NHS.

  • Desmond Swayne Con New Forest West

    Question

    What impact does militant strike action have on a respected profession when it results in chaos at hospitals, particularly when there is no cooperation with hospital authorities to minimise disruption?

    Minister reply

    There is a distinction between the militant group within the junior doctors committee and the vast majority of junior doctors who perform important jobs in the NHS. While we recognise the pressures faced by junior doctors during the pandemic, some members of the BMA's junior doctors committee have pursued a more political agenda, moving the BMA towards traditional trade union activity.

  • Justin Madders Lab Ellesmere Port and Bromborough

    Question

    This is an urgent question, but I do not get a sense of urgency from the Secretary of State that he wants to resolve the dispute. I urge him to drop any preconditions on any future meetings.

    Minister reply

    First, there is absolutely no traducing going on. The hon. Gentleman suggested that I drop the precondition. It is not I who set the precondition; it is the junior doctors committee.

  • Andy Carter

    Question

    Can he confirm that he is doing everything he can to ensure that those needing urgent healthcare in Warrington will be able to access it despite the industrial action by the BMA?

    Minister reply

    I thank my hon. Friend for his question. Yes, the Department is working very closely with colleagues in NHS England and across the NHS to mitigate as best we can the impact of the junior doctors’ strike.

  • Sarah Olney Lib Dem Richmond Park

    Question

    What plans does he have to address the impact that the strike will have on waiting lists?

    Minister reply

    I think we can see what sort of impact it will have from the previous strike, which was over three days and impacted 181,049 appointments. We are doing a range of things including expanding community diagnostic hubs and fast-tracking surgical hubs.

  • Selaine Saxby

    Question

    Does my right hon. Friend agree that inflation is the enemy, making everyone poorer, and that public sector pay rises of over 25% will only drive inflation even higher?

    Minister reply

    I agree with my hon. Friend that we need to do both: get inflation down while recognising the real pressure junior doctors have faced. We stand ready to have meaningful and constructive talks.

  • Alex Cunningham

    Question

    Does he accept that pay is a key factor in the large number of vacancies within the NHS, and will he do something to sort that out?

    Minister reply

    I accept that pay is an important factor. It is not the only factor—the estate and technology are also important.

  • Ruth Cadbury Lab Brentford and Isleworth

    Question

    Does he now accept that the BMA has said its 35% demand is a starting point? Will he therefore sit down and negotiate an affordable settlement, without delay?

    Minister reply

    I have already answered that question twice. I checked with my officials in the Department this morning, and they confirmed that was the position.

  • Matt Western Lab Warwick and Leamington

    Question

    Has he not set out his own precondition, and that is that he will not meet them until they call off the strikes?

    Minister reply

    There are two different things there—one on which the hon. Gentleman is correct and one on which he is not. He is correct that we have said that a precondition for meaningful and constructive talks is that the trade union suspends strikes.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Question

    Will the Secretary of State outline what support is available for junior doctors who need greater support from registrars and consultants?

    Minister reply

    I am very happy to give the hon. Gentleman reassurance about our desire to have that constructive engagement, exactly as we had with colleagues on the NHS staff council.

Shadow Comment

Wes Streeting

More than 300,000 operations and appointments have been cancelled since December due to industrial action in the NHS. The planned strikes for next month will be longer than any previous ones with no derogations planned. Patients are terrified about their safety during these strikes and consultants fear that patients may die as a result. I urge the Health Secretary to engage junior doctors seriously in talks, stop these catastrophic strikes, and protect patient care. The Government's approach mirrors their failure to address the nurses' strikes until last minute, resulting in a standoff on Twitter rather than proper negotiations. Additionally, there is no sign of the NHS workforce plan addressing staff shortages or the general practice plan improving GP access.

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