Home / Health / BMA Hypocrisy: Staff Pay Rise Fuels Doctor Strike Fury
BMA Hypocrisy: Staff Pay Rise Fuels Doctor Strike Fury
27 Nov
Summary
- BMA staff awarded 2% pay rise amid resident doctors' 26% strike demand.
- Health secretary criticizes BMA for acting like a 'cartel'.
- Each doctor strike costs NHS £250-300 million, worsening waitlists.
The British Medical Association (BMA) is under fire for a perceived pay disparity, having offered its own staff a 2% pay rise while resident doctors are striking for a 26% increase. This move has led to accusations of hypocrisy and the BMA being branded a 'cartel' by Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
Resident doctors have already seen a significant pay uplift over recent years but are demanding further increases, leading to disruptive industrial action. These strikes have caused considerable distress to patients, resulting in cancelled appointments and operations. The repeated walkouts are estimated to cost the NHS between £250 million and £300 million per strike, hindering efforts to reduce patient waiting lists.
Adding to the controversy, the GMB union, which represents over three-quarters of BMA staff, reports that 91% of its members would support industrial action against the 2% offer. The GMB highlights that BMA employees have experienced a nearly 17% real-terms pay decrease since 2012, despite the organization advocating for better pay for doctors. NHS England's chief executive urged the BMA to end the strikes, warning of their financial impact.
