Doctors in Britain take part in a three-day strike to protest low wages

Thousands of UK-based and trainee doctors on Monday announced a three-day strike that will severely affect patient care to protest wages they say are very low.

The strike is the latest in which workers in the state-funded National Health Service take part in Britain, after the strike by nursing staff, paramedics and others to demand higher wages to keep pace with high levels of inflation.

Stephen Boyce, NHS England’s national medical director, said priority would be given to emergency services during the strike, which could come at the expense of routine check-ups, surgeries and even some urgent cancer treatments.

“This is likely to be the most turbulent day of strikes we’ve seen all winter,” Boyce told the Radio Times.

These doctors in Britain are qualified and often have several years of experience and work under the supervision of senior doctors. They represent nearly half of the country’s medical workforce.

The union representing them, the British Medical Association, says their wages could start at 14.09 pounds ($17.04) an hour, one penny less than the highest wages for workers in a British coffee chain.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is under pressure to help end strikes by health workers, which are also hampering his main priorities of ending long waiting lists for treatment.

On Friday, Health Secretary Steve Barclay called on the British Medical Association for formal talks on wages.