🔗 Share this article Junior Physicians in the UK to Launch Five-Day Strike in November Medical professionals in England are preparing to begin a five consecutive day walkout in November, in protest over pay and employment. Walkout Information The British Medical Association (BMA) stated that junior physicians will strike for five days in a row from 7am on 14 November to November 19 at 7am. Resident doctors, who make up about half of all doctors in the NHS, are proceeding with the strike after failed negotiations with the health department. Reasons Behind the Strike Dr Jack Fletcher stated, “This is not where we wanted to be. We have spent the last week in talks with officials, urging the health secretary to resolve the scandal of doctors going unemployed.” “We know from our own survey 50% of second-year physicians in the UK are facing unemployment, their talents being unused whilst countless individuals endure long waits for care and shifts in hospitals go unfilled. This cannot continue.” He continued, “We negotiated sincerely, keen for the health secretary to understand that a agreement including options to slowly restore the pay reductions over a number of years, providing newly trained doctors a raise of only £1 per hour for the next four years.” “We trusted the government would see that our asks are not just fair but are in the best interests of the public and our those we treat and would also help prevent our physicians departing from the health service.” Who Are Resident Physicians? Resident doctors have as much as eight years of experience working as a hospital doctor, depending on their specialty, or up to three years in primary care. Further information will follow soon.