The Telegraph newspaper reported that, based on data from the UK’s Office for National Statistics, the death rate in the UK due to the doctors’ strike rose significantly in March.
The newspaper wrote: “During the week of the young doctors’ strike and the week after, 22,571 deaths were recorded, which is 11.1 percent higher than the average death rate (2,247 deaths).”
Philip Penfield, spokesman for the British Medical Association, said it was impossible to determine the consequences of the strike by young doctors without careful analysis of these data.
He pointed out that death rates were also recorded in Wales, where there was no strike by doctors.
Currently, the British Medical Association is calling for a 35% increase in salaries for doctors to bring them back to 2008 levels, but UK Health Secretary Steve Barclay has called these demands “unrealistic ”.
Young doctors went on strike March 13-15, but failed to agree a pay rise with the British government. More than 175,000 hospital appointments and surgeries were canceled during that time.
Young British Doctors organized a new 4-day strike this week.
Preliminary assessments show that more than 350,000 scheduled hospital appointments and surgeries will be delayed or canceled due to the new strike.
The UK has witnessed a wave of strikes in recent months amid record inflation in the country. Mass protests were held in England with the participation of railway workers, lawyers, airport workers, postal workers and other sectors.
Source: Novosti
Source: Arabic RT