BMA Urges Hospitals to Prioritize Safe Patient Care during doctor Strikes
The British Medical Association (BMA) has issued guidance to NHS hospital leaders outlining expectations for maintaining patient safety during upcoming resident doctor strikes. The BMA letter emphasizes that while doctors have a legal right to strike, patient wellbeing remains the paramount concern.
NHS England has tasked hospitals with maintaining approximately 95% of planned surgical activity – known as elective procedures – during the strike period. the BMA acknowledges the challenge of achieving this target alongside the provision of urgent and emergency care, noting that routine cancellations already occur daily.
The BMA advises hospital trusts to leverage existing clinical leadership to determine safe staffing levels and, where necessary, offer appropriate incentives to non-striking doctors to cover additional shifts. Prioritization of emergency care through rescheduling of less urgent procedures is also recommended.
Dr. Tom Dolphin, Chair of the BMA Council, stated the letter’s core purpose is to reinforce the commitment to patient safety throughout the industrial action. He cautioned against attempts to pressure striking doctors into returning to work, except in genuine emergencies like mass casualty events.
The BMA clarifies that requests for striking doctors to temporarily return to work – termed a ‘derogation’ - should be reserved for truly unexpected and extreme circumstances to ensure safe care, not to mitigate disruption caused by inadequate planning to meet NHS England’s ambitious targets. The association stresses that hospitals must adequately plan for extra cover or provide incentives, rather than relying on striking doctors to fill gaps.
