Hospitals in England have canceled more than 88,000 appointments in seven weeks of strikes by nurses and ambulance workers. Physicians are dissatisfied with reduction of real salaries and taxation of pensions.
Since December 15, English hospitals have postponed the inpatient treatment of nearly 11,000 patients, which usually includes surgery. More than 56,000 outpatient appointments, over 19,000 public service appointments, and more than 1,700 sessions with psychologists and psychiatrists were also cancelled. This data was published by the health services organization of England NHS Providers.
“The shocking extent of work disruption is a direct result of pay disputes between the government and unions,” said Saffron Corderi, interim director of NHS Providers.
Doctors are unhappy with the reduction in real incomes due to the fact that the government has been raising their salaries below the inflation rate for many years. The British Union of Medical Workers notes that since 2008, the real salaries of doctors have decreased by an average of almost 35%.
In addition, doctors are forced to shorten their working hours or even quit their jobs due to “unfair rules for taxing pensions,” the union said. Strikes continue, with senior medical workers likely to join soon.
British Health Minister Stephen Barclay responded to the strikes by medical workers expressed regret that they are involved, and said that he “will continue to meet with unions to discuss what can be done with their wages.”
Other Radio Liberty news:
