Dr. Edwina Hegarty, a junior doctor in Belfast, is seeking a “get-out plan” due to worsening working conditions in Northern Ireland. She and her husband, both in further training in Newcastle, are considering leaving the profession due to these deteriorating conditions. This sentiment comes amid a 48-hour strike by junior doctors over pay disputes, which began at 07:00 BST on June 6 and will end at 07:00 BST on June 8. The strike is expected to cause widespread disruption to health services, following similar actions in March and May.
The Department of Health (DoH) advises that this industrial action coincides with the launch of a new IT system in the Belfast Trust. Despite the strike, the trust anticipated minimal issues with the new system due to fewer scheduled appointments.
Junior doctors are protesting due to a significant drop in real wages over the past 15 years, with current pay increases deemed insufficient. The current starting salary for a junior doctor is about £26,000, not including extra for weekend or out-of-hours work. The DoH has announced a backdated 2023/24 pay award for junior doctors, averaging a 9.07% increase.
Dr. Fiona Griffin, chair of the BMA Northern Ireland junior doctors committee, highlights that many doctors are moving abroad for better pay. She emphasizes the need for proper compensation to retain doctors in Northern Ireland, apologizing to patients affected by the strikes.
The strikes have led to the cancellation or rescheduling of thousands of outpatient appointments and procedures across various health trusts in Northern Ireland. The new patient record system launch, despite coinciding with the strike, is seen as necessary for patient safety and long-term improvements in service delivery.