The Guardian reports that Junior doctors’ leaders have blamed Steve Barclay for triggering their three-day strike this week by ignoring their concerns and being “dismissive” of their demands for improved pay.
Hospitals in England functioned effectively on Monday, the first day of the stoppage, with consultants – senior doctors – covering work usually done by junior colleagues. Many thousands of trainee medics refused to work, forcing hospitals to cancel outpatient appointments and operations.
The Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA), one of the two medical trade unions whose members are striking until Thursday, launched a strongly worded attack on the health secretary’s handling of the dispute, which has been increasingly likely since June last year.
Full article in The Guardian, 14 March 2023