Junior doctors are taking to picket lines later this month to fight for a fair wage after the government failed to meet deadlines.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced a five day strike between 24 and 28 of February, a full walkout is expected for all junior doctors.
The Junior Doctors, who range from graduates to having 10 years experience, wanted a 35% pay rise in order to match rises in inflation and cost of living.
The BMA said: “Progress was being made in talks but the Government failed to meet the deadline of 8 February to present a credible offer.”
There are around 71,000 junior doctors in England and they have credited increased workloads and longer waitlists for patients leading to escalated stress.
The BMA’s Junior Doctors committee chairs Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi said: ”We have made every effort to work with the Government in finding a fair solution to this dispute whilst trying to avoid strike action.”
Junior Doctors’ pay has risen at a below average rate since 2008, something that the BMA has said the wage increases would make up for.
Over 1.2 million doctors appointments have been cancelled due to NHS strikes since 2022.
The BMA has now opened a ballot to their members for further strike action to take place and are currently in talks with the government after rejecting their latest deal.
The British Medical Association said: “A crippling cost-of-living crisis, burnout and well below inflation pay rises risk driving hard working doctors out of their profession at a time when we need them more than ever. If junior doctors are forced out of the NHS because of poor pay and conditions, the services we all rely on to look after our loved ones will suffer.”
This comes after the longest ever NHS strike taken by junior doctors between 3 to 9 of January, causing fears of patient safety after 100,000 appointments were cancelled.