In an escalating dispute with the government over pay, junior doctors and consultants in England are set to stage synchronized strikes this autumn. This marks the first time that both groups

have walked out together, following a decisive vote in favor of continuing strikes by junior doctors in a British Medical Association (BMA) ballot, which granted the union a new six-month mandate.

The strikes are scheduled for September 20 to 22 and October 2 to 4. On these dates, junior doctors and consultants will stand united in their protest. During the joint strikes, emergency services will still be maintained, and a limited level of cover will be provided on the wards.

The BMA junior doctor committee co-chairmen, Dr. Rob Laurenson and Dr. Vivek Trivedi, expressed their determination, stating, "We are sending a single message, loud and clear to the government: 'we are not going anywhere.' We are prepared to continue with our industrial action, but we don't have to—the prime minister has the power to halt any further action by making us a credible offer."

The core issue revolves around pay discrepancies. The BMA is calling for a 35% pay rise for junior doctors to compensate for what they see as 15 years of below-inflation wage increases. The government has offered a 6% increase plus an additional £1,250, which averages out to nearly 9%. Officials have asserted that the current offer is final, as it aligns with the recommendations of an independent pay review body.

Strikes by NHS staff, including junior doctors and consultants, have already led to the postponement of over 940,000 appointments and treatments since last December. While many health unions have ceased strike action, the coordinated strikes by junior doctors and consultants signal a significant intensification of the ongoing dispute. Both NHS England and ministers attribute the rising number of people awaiting treatment to the doctor strikes.

The latest developments indicate the complex challenges the NHS faces as it contends with the ongoing demands of medical professionals, the impact on patient care, and the need for resolution in the face of deep-rooted disagreements between the government and medical associations.