Hospitals across Kent braced for BMA resident doctor strikes

It's first industrial action of is kind for Starmer's government.  Gabriel Morris reports...

Transcript

00:00The government promised last year to turn over a new leaf for NHS working conditions and pay.

00:06But just over a year after Labour's election win, doctors are back on strike.

00:11Although nowhere to be seen here.

00:14It's the first industrial action of its kind during Starmer's administration.

00:19Now we don't quite know how many resident doctors have walked out today.

00:24Usually we would get an idea as a picket line forms outside Medway Maritime's hospital.

00:32But it's just gone 7.30 in the morning and there's no sign of any doctors or any picket line here.

00:40We've asked the British Medical Association several times for an interview to explain why they're calling for a near 30% pay rise.

00:49They haven't responded to our requests.

00:51Health Secretary Wes Streeting says striking doctors have already received a 29% pay rise over the past three years.

00:59With a further 5.5% offer on the table.

01:03In Medway, public opinion remains divided on industrial action.

01:08It's actually quite disgusting they're putting a doctor strike on.

01:11Because people with arthritis, if they've got an arthritis appointment in the hospital or anything.

01:15I think that physiotherapy side of things and they're cancelling it, it's not going to do anyone good.

01:21I think the medical profession deserve a good wage.

01:24They do a fantastic job.

01:26People haven't got the resources for, you know, like they're piling all these people in and stuff like that.

01:32You know what I mean?

01:32So I think it's a bad idea.

01:33I think health should come first.

01:35The pay rises I used to get when I was in work was something of three or four percent, not 20-odd percent.

01:41KMTV's health expert told us this week that maintaining public support during extended strikes is proving difficult.

01:51Because I think going for that incredibly high amount is losing the public.

01:56And the last set of strikes we had last year, actually the public were quite supportive.

02:00It is a very difficult decision whether you're going to take industrial action and certainly in the GP land.

02:07But at the same time, if we don't actually maintain some of the pay parity that we had before,

02:13we're not going to be able to recruit people into being junior doctors.

02:16The message from hospital bosses is business as usual for those coming to A&E.

02:20But during previous strikes, hospitals cancelled more non-urgent appointments.

02:25This time that's not the case.

02:27And last-minute cancellations aren't being ruled out.

02:29If your routine appointment is in general practice, you can assume it's definitely going ahead.

02:35And if it's in hospital, unless you've heard otherwise, you can also assume it's going ahead.

02:40But I do have to say we will not know until the day quite how many doctors will choose not to work.

02:45So I can't promise there won't be adjustments on the day.

02:49The strike action continues until Wednesday with the government holding firm.

02:55Kent could be in for another wave of walkouts.

02:57And is there a possibility it could inspire other public sectors to walk out?

03:05Gabriel Morris for KNTV in Medway.