More than fifty junior doctors from Homerton Hospital joined the picket line on 13 March as part of a three-day strike by the British Medical Association (BMA) over pay and working conditions.
The BMA is seeking a salary rise of 35 per cent for junior doctors as part of a “full pay restoration” to 2008/9 levels. Steve Barclay, the health secretary, has described the demand as “simply unaffordable”.
Charlie McDonald, who has worked at Homerton for nine months, said staff were striking “as a last resort”.
“It’s been a really hard decision for people to make,” he said. “But three days of increased disruption to try and make a real change that will improve things moving forward for years to come, on balance is a no-brainer.”
Despite cold and windy conditions, striking staff joined the picket line throughout the day, with particularly busy “power hours” timed to coincide with shift start and end times. Many then took part in a mass demonstration in central London in the afternoon, attended by around 3,000 people from picket lines across the country.
More than 36,000 union members are involved in the 72-hour walkout, which has affected both emergency and planned care across hospitals in England.
“I think people need to understand […] that this government has refused to listen to anything else.”
Andrew Meyerson, A&E junior doctor
With no exemptions for A&E, maternity care or cancer treatment, Sir Stephen Powis, head of NHS England, has described the disruption as some of “the most severe in the NHS’ history”.
Andrew Meyerson, a junior doctor based in A&E who has worked at Homerton for two years, said he felt “absolutely awful” for the disruption caused by the strike.
“I spoke to a patient who had an appointment for cancer delayed […] My heart goes out to them, to people who have [experienced] further delays [to care] because of today’s action. But I think people need to understand […] that this government has refused to listen to anything else.”
Junior doctors make up around 45 per cent of the medical workforce, leaving consultants and other senior staff to cover for striking workers.
Kim Stallard, who has been a junior doctor at Homerton for four years and is now based in A&E, emphasised that the strike is about preventing staff quitting for good, as well as wages and conditions.
“A lot of us feel undervalued, stressed, tired, burnt out, and a lot of my colleagues and friends have moved to Australia because the working conditions are much better there,” she said. “If you can’t retain your staff, then that’s not a system that’s working.”
Elizabeth Hobbs, a junior doctor in paediatrics, has worked for the NHS for 13 years and has “definitely seen conditions deteriorate” during that time.
“We have to have a long-term view. We want to provide good care and we’re currently not being given the tools and resources to do that, so it’s up to us to draw attention to that.”
The last day of the industrial action, Wednesday (15 March), is set to coincide with that of several other strikes by different unions, including those representing teachers, civil servants, and London Underground drivers.
Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has not responded to a request for comment.
