To wonder if the Doctors strike will still go ahead next week?

[Netcurtainnelly]

Does anyone know when it will be decided if the strike will be called off because of the flu next week?

What do you think about it?

Why hasn’t Wes Streeting any idea of what is going on with regards to recruitment? He is often seen in and out of hospitals and cross party talks and on the tv news , he appears fairly competent and briefed , so why isn’t he aware of the problems and why the union wants to go back on strike?

They did have one, that's why I mentioned people might be less sympathetic this time.

The increase in hospital flu cases has been going on since September.
Doesn't help that parents didn't send in permission slips for the spray vaccine or that people are not getting themselves vaccinated.
Unfortunately it is not those people who are suffering (or the Darwin effect) but they are causing it to spread and mutate to those who are vulnerable and make them seriously ill as no vaccine is 100%

It is the career prospects.
Having to apply for the next stage of training jobs which has a competition ratio of more than 4 for a job anywhere in the country (even harder if you need to work in a specific area because you have a family). There has been no increase in training places despite an increase in medical student places

He certainly knew that UK medical graduate prioritisation was a huge issue in June/July. He promised it in the summer then did nothing.

He had enough time to do something before Oriel's yearly specialty training application round started in Oct/Nov so now it is too late.

The only good thing to come out of this is the spotlight is now on the ridiculous amounts of International Medical Graduate applications to UK specialty training posts.

Streeting will have to do something about this strike or not. In the 2025 cycle 67% of applicants to UK specialty training were International Medical Graduates.

The ridiculous competition ratios are due to 20, 802 International Medical Graduates applying alongside around 12,000 UK medical graduates for around 12,000 specialty training places.

I have read the competition ratios was 7:1 no idea where Streeting's 4:1 came from.

Just wait and see. All this speculation we have nowadays about what might happen/ rumours - a total waste of time

I initially supported doctors striking but my patience is wearing thin. Every profession in the country is stretched, underpaid, salary stagnant in real terms etc

They’re no different but I feel they use their status as ‘the only people who can save lives’ as leverage which is quite unedifying.

I get that things are very stressful but ultimately everyone is very stressed and they’ve already had a pay rise

Why do the jobs go to international grads ?
I understand competition is inevitable,and possibly a good thing,but why are international grads preferred

The ballot finishes on Monday 15th Dec so result should be out sometime on Monday. Strike is meant to start on 17th so Trusts are having to make decisions assuming strike goes ahead. FWIW many resident doctors didn't vote for strike action earlier this year, but obviously enough did for the BMA to have a strike mandate which I think expires in January.

Is this why they say "we need immigrants in the NHS". Because they take the jobs from British medical graduates?

Why would they do that? Making striking illegal should only be used minimally in genuinely vital services

they should continue, the whole point of striking is maximum disruption

So we have hospitals running? The NHS is vital isn't it.

I think the strike may well be called off. It would be a PR disaster for the BMA.

Because an international doctor applies for a ct1 or st1 job when they have been working as a ct/ST3 in their home country, they use agencies to prepare their application and are not working 169 hours per week while they are doing the applications.
The international trainees (not grads) often return home once they are consultants

It’s not illegal for them to strike, so obviously not. They have been striking for a long time.

it’s only illegal for the police, armed services and prison guards to strike. I can’t see why you’d change that. Taking away a workers right to strike is a very serious restriction on freedoms.

They should not be striking anyway

@AllApptsGonethe BMA have put it out to a ballot so the decision rests on the ballot result. I agree that a strike at the moment would be damaging in many ways but BMA leadership are very committed to getting pay increase into the offer, which it isn'tcurrently.

In that vein neither should anyone who is in the public services go on strike - the tube drivers, those who drive fuel lorries, gas supply workers
There is cover in the NHS - consultants come in, non medical prescribers do extra hours not everyone strikes just works out more expensive

How do you think people got rights such as holidays, pensions and maternity leave?! FFS unions have created a huge amount of the privileges people take for granted in this country.

Better pay and working hours
Safer workplaces
Protection from unfair treatment
Help if you have problems at work
More job security and clearer rules

People have a stronger voice because workers speak together!

Because Boris dropped The Resident Labour Market Test in January 2020. Before that UK Medical Graduates had priority for UK specialty training.

The result is International Medical Graduates (IMGs) can apply for UK specialty training on the same terms as UK Medical Graduates (UKMGs). This is not a level playing field as it is a points based system where UKMGs that have been doctors for less than 2 years are competing with IMGs that may have been doctors in some cases 10+ years.

So we benefit by keeping the NHS running.

So the International doctors are more experienced,is that not a good thing?
Every job is open to competition I suppose

I don't think it will stop.

Streeting has caused so much ill feeling. He now has huge amounts of unemployed doctors. He was very stupid to weaponise UKMG priority for jobs.

Why are you taking about your benefit? People striking don’t care about your benefit. The point is to inconvenience you.