JUNIOR doctors in Winchester are continuing to strike over pay this week.

The strikes, started today (June 14), and are expected to last until Saturday, June 17, and involve members of the British Medical Association (BMA) union. These latest strikes come after the union rejected a proposed 5 per cent pay increase offer, with the union instead seeking a 35 per cent rise.

A picket line was formed outside of Royal County Hospital. One of the picketers, Dr Rob May-Miller, called the government’s pay offer “pretty disappointing”.

He said: “That’s another real-terms pay cut on top of the real-terms cuts we’ve had over the decade as well. The 35 per cent number is what it would take to pay to match before this year of inflation, pay to match what we were getting in 2008.”

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Another member of the picket line, Dr Luke McMaster, pushed back against criticism about the latest round of strikes, with NHS chiefs warning that the number of people seeking emergency help will rise as hot weather continues across the UK.

He said: “There are health difficulties throughout the year really.

“I mean, there’s the winter season also, which is difficult for people. I think we’ve got to strike, we’ve got to strike for the NHS really.”

Dr May-Miller added: “The consultants and other health care professionals will be covering emergency care, so there shouldn’t be a situation where people are coming in with an emergency and are not being treated. There will unfortunately be cancellations of clinics and operations but that’s the situation the government has put us in.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said it is “extremely disappointing” that the BMA is going ahead with further strike action.

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He said: “This 72-hour walkout will put patient safety and our efforts to cut waiting lists at risk.

“During recent meetings with representatives of the BMA junior doctors committee, we made a fair and reasonable opening offer and were discussing both pay and non-pay issues until they chose to end the talks by announcing new strike dates.

“If the BMA cancels these damaging and disruptive strikes and shows willingness to move significantly from their position, we can resume confidential talks and find a way forward, as we have done with other unions.”