Junior doctors in Northern Ireland are set to be balloted on whether to take their first-ever strike action. The vote will run for six weeks and could result in a 24-hour walkout. A newly qualified doctor in the country earns £26,000 ($35,100) a year, compared to a starting rate of more than £33,000 in England and £32,000 in Scotland. Junior doctors in the Republic of Ireland are paid at a higher rate than those north of the border.
Dr Steven Montgomery, a paediatric junior doctor in the Southern Trust, said the low salaries were causing staff to leave, and they were “losing staff to multiple countries”. The feeling among staff is that morale is low, the lowest he has ever seen. He called for pay parity, better working conditions and to save Northern Ireland’s NHS.
NI Junior Doctor Chair Dr Fiona Griffin has called for an immediate, above-inflation pay rise to address the issues around pay urgently. She also said the government needs to engage with the NIJDC quickly as failure to address pay in Northern Ireland now equates to a 30% reduction in 15 years. On average, junior doctors in Northern Ireland work 48 hours a week but it can realistically work out at approximately 55 hours.
According to health unions, the ongoing negativity is having an impact on attracting younger people to the profession. A potential walkout would have a significant impact on waiting lists and patients waiting to be seen on wards, with consultants expected to cover junior doctor roles. The British Medical Association stressed that strike action was a last resort and it would welcome any approach from the Northern Ireland secretary to talk
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