The BMA has begun its longest strike yet, as thousands of junior doctors in Wales walk out for four days.
The Welsh government last year offered a pay rise of 5 per cent, but the union says the below-inflation offer is the worst in the UK.
The strike started at 7am on Monday (25 March) and will last until 7am on Friday (29 March).
Dr Oba Babs-Osibodu and Dr Peter Fahey, co-chairs of BMA Cymru Wales’ Junior Doctors Committee said: “It’s extremely sad and frustrating that we find ourselves here again, our third strike and our longest yet. We don’t want to be in this position but again, faced with inaction, we are left with no choice.
“We want to reiterate that the strikes can be called off at any time if the Welsh Government put forward a credible pay offer to form the basis of talks. Whilst we continue to be undervalued, and disregarded for our work in the health service our resolve to restore our pay remains unbroken, enough is enough.
“Junior doctors are starting their careers earning £13.65 an hour in Wales. Is that all they are worth? They are providing lifesaving care after training for years and are shouldering up to £100,000 of debt. We will continue our fight for fair pay for all doctors working in the NHS. It is no surprise that we are losing doctors as they search for better pay and conditions elsewhere. Losing our doctors at a time when waiting lists are at record highs will mean patients suffering more than they are already."
Where are junior doctors striking in the UK?
Junior doctors are currently on strike in Wales. Meanwhile, junior doctors in England have also voted to strike but dates have yet to be announced but they have backed a further 6 months of walkouts.
When are the strikes?
Junior doctors in Wales are walking out from 25-29 March, while senior doctors in Wales will walk out from 16-18 April.
Are junior doctors going on strike in England?
Junior doctors in England have voted to return to picket lines in their pay dispute.
ââ98 per cent of members of the British Medical Association who voted backed a further 6 months of walkouts on a turnout of 62 per cent.
There was nearly equal support – 97 per cent in favour, 3 per cent against – for taking action short of a strike, such as refusing to work overtime, in pursuit of a 35 per cent pay rise.
This will be the 11th walkout so far by junior doctors since the first one in March last year.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has asked for a 35 per cent pay rise, but ministers have described the demands as unreasonable.
Junior doctors committee co-chairs Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi said:â¯â¯â¯"It has now been a year since we began strike action.
“That is a year of too many strikes. The government believed it could ignore, delay, and offer excuses long enough that we would simply give up.
“We ask the health secretary to come forward as soon as possible with a new offer - and make sure not a single further strike day need be called.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said that the result was “disappointing”, and that the BMA should come back to the negotiating table with reasonable expectations so a “fair deal” could be found for the NHS, doctors and patients.
