When it comes to strikes, the ball remains in the government’s court

The Department of Health and Social Care hopes to turn public opinion against striking doctors,12 but if a 35% pay rise is unacceptable, what about the equivalent erosion in real terms pay over the past 15 years? Heart breaking working conditions3 also underly recent strikes by health workers in Portugal, the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, and France.4 An international neoliberal consensus to reduce the costs of healthcare has led to intolerable pressures on staff5 and deteriorating patient care. The World Health Organization warns: “We cannot wait . . . to address the pressing challenges facing our health workforce. The health and wellbeing of our societies are at stake.”4 Pay justice to improve recruitment and retention is crucial, but decent, safe, adequately staffed work environments are also essential.4 So are flexible working arrangements and workplace provision of low cost child care facilities.6Pressure on doctors includes malign misrepresentation as secretive, undemocratic, and politically…
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