Doctors strike again amid flu crisis – The Latest

In this episode of Today in Focus, the discussion centers around the ongoing strike by resident doctors, who are demanding a full restoration of their pay to 2008-9 levels. This industrial action, which affects a significant portion of the NHS workforce, is taking place during a critical period when hospitals are already under pressure due to an early outbreak of a severe flu strain.

The strike involves around 70,000 resident doctors, representing about half of the medical workforce in England. NHS England anticipates that the disruption caused by the strike will be among the most significant seen during the previous industrial actions. The head of NHS England warns that current hospital admissions due to flu are at a record high, a situation that complicates care availability during winter months.

Resident doctors have previously received a substantial pay rise, but remain dissatisfied, arguing that they are still underpaid and expressing concerns about their career progression due to a bottleneck in specialty training positions. Despite government efforts to expand training opportunities and a recent pay increase, the doctors are not willing to settle for less than their demands for full pay restoration. Public opinion has also shifted against the striking doctors, contrasting earlier support for their cause, which adds pressure on the government to resolve the issue swiftly.

The episode concludes with insights into how public sentiment has evolved and the challenges faced by both the striking doctors and the government in resolving this dispute.