The British Medical Association Warns Against Influenza 'Scaremongering' Prior to Scheduled Physician Walkouts
The leading doctors' union has raised an alarm against what it calls public "fearmongering" regarding the present flu outbreak, as its members consider whether to carry out impending walkouts in England the coming week.
Union Response to Ministerial Concerns
This statement arrives after the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, stated he was "extremely worried" about the looming "double whammy" of increasing figures of flu patients in hospitals and the upcoming resident doctor strikes.
The head of the BMA's resident doctors' group, Dr Jack Fletcher, stated that while the union was not "downplaying" the impact of flu, Mr. Streeting "ought not to be scaremongering the public into thinking that the NHS will not be able to look after them."
"In our role as physicians, we at the BMA wish to ensure that patients remain safe," a letter from the union declared.
Industrial Action Vote and Possible Timeline
The result of a members' referendum is scheduled for Monday. If it is rejected, a week-long walkout will begin on Wednesday.
Ministers says its proposal includes measures that gives preference to British medical graduates for training posts starting next year and offers to cover the costs exam fees.
But, the deal omits a salary increase. Sir Keir Starmer has commented that pay for resident doctors has grown by 28.9% over the past three years.
Appeals for Focus on a Deal
In a announcement, the BMA appealed to the health secretary to "devote his efforts on offering a deal that will stop next week's strikes going ahead, rather than making claims that strike action could cause the NHS to collapse."
The BMA has also written to chief executives of NHS Trusts in England, indicating that, should there be a strike, resident doctors may be required to return to work to "ensure safe patient care."
Political Response and Flu Data
In an interview with media, Mr. Streeting said the current situation was "probably the worst pressure the NHS has faced since Covid." He questioned why the BMA hadn't accepted an offer to reschedule the industrial action to January.
Echoing the health secretary, the prime minister said the "reckless" strikes "ought not to go ahead" while the NHS is facing its "most challenging moment since the pandemic."
Concerning the flu outbreak, health officials note it has come early this winter. Around 2,660 patients per day were in hospital with flu in England last week – the highest for this time of year since records began in 2021.
It is important to note, these records only date back to 2021 and so do not capture the two worst flu seasons of the past 15 years.
In spite of the rising numbers, the medical director for the NHS in London said the flu situation was "under control" of what the NHS could handle and that hospitals were better prepared for large disease outbreaks since the Covid pandemic.
The BMA said it will ask its members whether the government's latest offer will be enough to cancel Wednesday's strikes. If members vote in favor, a formal follow-up referendum would be held on resolving the dispute entirely.