Posted By :  Admin1

London: Senior doctors in England have reached an agreement with the British government, ending a yearlong dispute marked by unprecedented strike action. The British Medical Association and the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association, representing the consultants, announced on Friday that 83% of those who voted supported the offer. The pay raise, which ranges from 2.85% for consultants with four to seven years of experience, aims to address gender pay disparities in the National Health Service and improve parental leave benefits. Despite this progress, Dr. Vishal Sharma, chair of the BMA consultants committee, emphasized that the fight is not yet finished, acknowledging the ongoing struggle to restore pay levels to where they stood 15 years ago. Declining pay for consultants has contributed to a significant number of senior doctors leaving the country, he noted. Junior doctors, crucial to hospital and clinical care as they train to specialize in various fields, continue to be at odds with the government. They have staged walkouts, requiring their senior counterparts to cover emergency, critical care, and maternity services during strikes. Matthew Taylor, CEO of the NHS Confederation, expressed relief over the settlement with consultants but urged the government and junior doctors to find common ground. Concerns persist about potential further strikes, which could exacerbate the strain on already stretched services, with over 1.4 million appointments and operations canceled due to industrial action in the past year. The UK has grappled with a series of strikes across the healthcare sector amid demands for wage increases to offset the rising cost of living. Union leaders highlight real wage declines, particularly in the public sector, over the past decade, compounded by double-digit inflation driven by surging food and energy prices in late 2022 and early 2023, leaving many struggling to meet expenses. Last Friday, a significant portion of England experienced a halt in train services due to a new strike initiated by drivers amidst their ongoing dispute over pay. While various NHS groups, including nurses and ambulance crews, have successfully negotiated pay agreements with the government, the union representing junior doctors has remained steadfast, leading to breakdowns in negotiations late last year. The Conservative government in Britain has often placed blame for NHS issues on junior doctors, whereas the leading opposition Labour Party, currently leading in opinion polls ahead of a general election, accuses Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of hindering progress personally. Sunak welcomed the resolution of the consultants' strike as "excellent news for patients.”