JUNIOR doctors on Wirral have taken to the picket line for the second day this week in an ongoing pay dispute.
Around 40 joined the picket outside Arrowe Park Hospital at 7am today and will continue to strike until Saturday morning (April 15).
The action, being taken by members of the British Medical Association (BMA), centres around a pay row between the BMA and Government, with the union claiming junior doctors in England have seen a 26% real-terms pay cut since 2008/09 because pay rises have been below inflation.
The union has asked for a full pay restoration that the Government said would amount to a 35% pay rise – which ministers have said is unaffordable.
BMA officials said the pay issue is making it harder to recruit and retain junior doctors, with members previously walking out for three days in March.
Dr Annie Bown, 29, Chair of the British Medical Association Regional Junior Doctors Committee for Merseyside, told the Globe today: "We really hoped this strike action wouldn't happen.
"The NHS is not an attractive employer to work for at the moment. People are leaving to work for health services in other countries; Australia for example, which offers better pay. I graduated in July and am on about £14 an hour. The deal, if reached, would take that to £19 an hour.
"Unless this pay dispute is resolved soon, more junior doctors will leave."
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: "It is extremely disappointing the BMA has called strike action for four consecutive days.
"Not only will the walkouts risk patient safety, but they have also been timed to maximise disruption after the Easter break.
"I hoped to begin formal pay negotiations with the BMA last month but its demand for a 35% pay rise is unreasonable – it would result in some junior doctors receiving a pay rise of over £20,000.
"If the BMA is willing to move significantly from this position and cancel strikes we can resume confidential talks and find a way forward, as we have done with other unions."
The BMA has previously said it was willing to enter talks with Mr Barclay and suspend strikes if members were presented with a “credible” pay offer “to resolve 15 years of pay erosion."
In a statement online, Wirral University Teaching Hospital said: "You will have been contacted if your appointment is affected. Please continue to attend hospital appointments unless contacted otherwise.
"Hospital services will be significantly impacted by the strike action. If it is not an emergency please contact NHS 111 Online and please only attend A&E if you have an emergency."
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