NHS and health

Junior doctors need solidarity

Junior doctors struck again for three days before Christmas (20-23 December) and six days after (3-9 January). Since March they have had 34 days of strikes in their campaign for “pay restoration” (reversal of large real-terms pay cuts since 2008). Their action, far more determined than other public-sector strikes, and escalating in December, has moved the government. Yet what is being offered to the junior doctors remains poor, yet another real-terms pay cut for many. In London British Medical Association (BMA) members organised city-wide pickets or demonstrations at different hospitals on...

Labour leaders sit in Tory trap

After a year in which the NHS and other public services have crumbled as never before, the Tories’ 22 November Autumn Statement responded by tax cuts for big business and no relief for public services. Even before winter starts, the NHS waiting list (on latest available figures , September 2023) is still rising, and at a record level of 7.8 million in England. It was a bit over two million before the Tories came to office in 2010. Most patients (57.6%) on the waiting list in September 2023 had been there for more than 18 weeks. 391,122 cases had been waiting more than 52 weeks and some for...

Senior doctors to ballot on new pay offer

The government has made a new pay offer to consultants (senior doctors), and the consultants’ union, the BMA, will ballot on it from mid-December to late July. In February the Tories said no NHS worker would get more than 3.5% in 2023-4. In July they shifted to 6%, and said there would be no more talks. After doctors struck, there were of course new talks. The BMA said the offer will bring more pay rises to doctors, varying from 0% to 12.8%, improve the Pay Review Body, and speed up pay progression. BMA junior doctors, however, still face only the July offer of 6%. “Speciality and specialist”...

Tax the rich! Restore the NHS!

Solidarity goes to press on Tuesday 21st, the day before Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement. Speculation swirls about what tax cut the Tories will offer, and whether and how they will clip inflation-uprating of benefits to suit. The Tories have considered cutting inheritance tax (essentially, for millionaires only), but optics may push them to cut income tax or National Insurance rates instead. Tax percentages are higher than before. The Tories have not changed income-tax thresholds, so with inflation more people pay higher income-tax rates. VAT has been at 20% since 2011 (it was 10%...

Doctors: Tories agree to talk

After more strikes by members of the British Medical Association in September and October, including the first coordinated action by junior doctors and consultants, the Tories have agreed to more talks (starting in the week beginning 23 October). The union’s hand in the talks would surely be stronger if it called more strikes now. At the moment no strike dates are set. And once we get into December and January, after months of delay and at a time when pressure and crisis in the NHS will worsen because of winter, it will surely be a challenge to get action back on. The doctors’ struggle has...

Tories desperate to end doctors' strike

The government is desperate to end doctors’ strikes for a real pay rise (part of their campaign for “pay restoration”, reversing huge real-terms pay cuts since 2008). It knows that a serious win for the doctors will make renewed strikes in other parts of the public sector next year more likely. So it is resorting to both stick and carrot. The sticks include leaking that it plans to recruit thousands of doctors from India to break the strike. The Daily Mail quotes a “Whitehall source” as citing Ronald Reagan’s smashing of the US air traffic controllers’ union in 1982. This may not be real or...

All the Rage 2023: A socialist feminist dayschool

Internationally the right's culture war is gaining ground, attacking LGBTQ people, in particular the trans community, rallying against immigration, and restricting reproductive freedoms. Working class women are at the sharp end of this assault and at the forefront of fighting back. Join us at for a day of workshops and talks to discuss where we stand and build a movement that can turn the tide. 10am-6pm + after-party until late. Pelican House, 144 Cambridge Heath Road London E1 5QJ Free childcare & London crash space on request SESSIONS (click on links for session details): • Opening Plenary...

Doctors need expanded support

Two thousand mainly young doctors and other health workers rallied in Manchester on 3 October, during Tory party conference. Striking junior doctors and consultants, members of the British Medical Association (BMA), were joined by members of the Society of Radiographers, also on strike on 3 October. “Full pay restoration” is a much better use of the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” than “Oh Jeremy Corbyn”. It sounds impressive shouted across St Peter’s Square. The BMA is fighting for a clear timetable for restoration of real-terms pay to 2008 levels. Speakers at the protest put emphasis on...

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