JUNIOR doctors across Wirral took strike action for a third day today (March 15) in a dispute over pay.

It comes as the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Government appear to be no closer to reaching a resolution on pay, with the union urging Health Secretary Steve Barclay to drop a number of pre-conditions to talks.

The BMA is demanding "pay restoration" for junior doctors, who can have many years of experience and make up about 45% of the medical workforce.

It says their pay has fallen in real terms by 26% since 2008/09 and reversing this would require a 35.3% pay rise.

Dozens of junior doctors stood outside Arrowe Park Hospital today on the picket, with support from lots of members of the public.

Dr Amir Varasteh, a representative for BMA in Merseyside, spoke to the Globe about why junior doctors are striking across the country.

"We're trying to improve the quality of work for our staff as well as the quality of care we provide to our patients", he said.

"We're at a critical point in the NHS and we feel something needs to be done to improve the service we're providing to our patients and also to improve the wider NHS service that we provide as doctors."

Wirral Globe: Junior doctors are asking for a pay riseJunior doctors are asking for a pay rise (Image: Chloe Nightingale)

Dr Annie Bown, 29, is the Chair of the British Medical Association Regional Junior Doctors Committee for Merseyside.

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She told the Globe: "We're asking for our pay to be restored to what it was in 2008/09 as it has decreased in real term by 26%. 

"As doctors, we are not seeing 26% fewer patients or doing 26% less work. If anything we're doing more work than ever, patients are more complex, and we worked through covid."

Annie explained the demand for full pay restoration was made last year.

"We didn't hear from the government by the deadline and they were given plenty of notice about the ballot and plenty of notice about strike action and they refused to engage at all", she said.

"Our chairs of BMA met with Steve Barclay last week and he told them he didn't have any mandate to discuss pay with them."

"On Friday (March 10) they met with officials from health and social care and Steve Barclay didn't show up to that meeting."

NHS pressures continue to rise

With NHS pressures continuing to rise, Annie put it down to so many nurses and doctors leaving the profession due to the treatment and pay.

She said: "We don't want to go on strike, it's really a last resort.

"We all love being doctors and we love treating patients but the way things are going at the moment, so many doctors are leaving the NHS. They are leaving medicine altogether or going to work in medicine abroad. 

"This is what is resulting in the poor conditions for patients in the NHS. It's why we've got people in corridors and waiting up to 40 hours to be seen in a&e.

"It makes a lot of us feel really worried about our future. None of us went into medicine for the money but we do make a lot of sacrifices as doctors.

"It's a very demanding role which we are not fairly compensated for at the moment."

Wirral Globe: Josh and Charlie were at the picket to support the strikesJosh and Charlie were at the picket to support the strikes (Image: Chloe Nightingale)

'Our Emergency Department is extremely busy'

A Wirral University Teaching Hospital spokesperson said: "We have activated our business continuity plans to maintain patient safety during the junior doctor industrial action.

"Our Emergency Department is extremely busy and we would ask the public to please only attend A&E in an emergency. If it is not an emergency please visit a GP or Pharmacy, or contact NHS 111 online or by phone."

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