The Prime Minister is urging resident doctors not to strike as “superflu” is sweeping across the nation and hospitals are bursting at the seems with patients.
Sir Keir Starmer is calling on member of the British Medical Association (BMA) not to continue with their “reckless strikes” which is due to take place on 17 to 22 of December.
The Health Secretary Wes Streeting has hit out at the strikes which has been dubbed the “nightmare before Christmas.”
Many schools have closed people are off work amid the new “K strain” of flu and hospital beds are filling up at a record pace.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman hit out at the BMA over their planned industrial action as they are demanding more pay after, not long ago the government gave them a pay rise.
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Last year resident doctors received a massive 28.9% pay increase shortly after Labour came to power, now they are demanding a further 26% rise.
The BMA union said that they have “no choice but to return to the picket lines” after the Health Secretary rejected the increase.
Downing Street said the “needless and reckless strikes” will ultimately “inflict pain on people” at a time when hospital beds and wards are almost full.
Starmer’s spokesman warned, “It must be clear about what this decision [to strike] means.
“Other NHS colleagues have had to cancel Christmas plans just to cover shifts; patients will have operations cancelled; and the NHS will be preparing for the worst in the middle of an unprecedented flu season.”
He added, “We’ve done everything we can to cancel these strikes, even giving them the option to extend the strike mandate so they can call off the strikes and consult their members.
“It’s frankly astounding that the BMA leadership rejected this.”
Shadow Health Secretary Stuart Andrew said, “As the NHS braces for another round of walkouts, it is clear stronger action is needed.
“If Labour is serious about reducing waiting lists and protecting patients, they would back our plans.
“Only the Conservatives have common sense proposals for the NHS, including banning doctors’ strikes to protect both patients and the public finances.”
