NHS strikes have 'a very human cost', says health secretary

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins compared the NHS to an oil tanker and said "the moment a strike is called that has very, very serious consequences for the whole of the system".

Ms Atkins said "It is important to emphasise that this year already junior doctors have had between 8.1% and 10.3% increases in their pay", but she said she is happy to resume talks as soon as their strikes are called off.

#nhsstrikes #healthsecretary #skynews

[avakholwadia]

The waiting list without strikes is 7 million so how on earth can she blame the doctors and healthcare professionals for the state the NHS is in. This government has been incharge for 14 years so the buck lies with them.

[VPPAF]

well wasting billions on a test and trace app and worthless ppe didnt cost lives ?

[hydra]

"This is the principle we apply across the public sector" - she hates us all

[rajeebrashid]

No secretary, UNDERPAYING NHS staff to the point where they strike, has a very human cost.

[aleccap]

What experience and qualifications does this person have for this top job ? Anyone

[earnestequivocation]

Very much keen Vicky…. recognises the pain and distress she is imposing upon patients by failing to be fair and reasonable. Sad woman.

[somthingbrutal]

a tory government has a higher 'very human cost'

[GerryT.]

Youve had 14 years to sort the NHS out Atkins, dont blame everything on strike action.

[Passive-Menis]

This woman speaks absolute nonsense, they can’t have talks well strikes are ongoing, why, “well because we’ve always said we can’t do that” - utter tripe

[julianshepherd]

Didn't have this strike in NHS Scotland
This strike is political

Sunak cosplaying Thatcher and the miners

[YankMcGill]

Thick as 2 railway sleepers, God help us.

[pettytyrant]

If it costs 6 million per day to keep immigrants in hotels, that's 42 million per week, 168 million per month of tax payers money. They're honestly saying they can't build suitable accommodation for processing for immigrants for that sort of money? It would be much cheaper in the long term to the tax payer, they are just deliberately wasting our money.

[pdalaigh]

" Doctor's in training" is thid woman?

[Chappers.Gaming]

and not paying staff Has the same effect

[BarrieWilson-sr]

Can't listen too politicians! Particularly bloody tories

[James_Doyle]

While the government not paying nhs staff costs humans lives

[loveisall]

As a healthcare worker in America for 40 years I have always followed the path of the NHS with interest, with its structure so different from ours. What mystifies me is the British opinion that I hear expressed, over and over through the years, that the UK has "free health care". Why this delusion, my British friends? There is nothing free in this world. Like our American disgrace of far underpaying our teachers, counting on them having a 'vocation' like a religious, the British seem content to underpay their healthcare professionals, then express horror that those people would finally strike when at the breaking point. I just saw on Ian Dale yesterday that junior doctors, as they are called in the UK, have lost 35% of real wages over the last 13 years, yet Dale was slamming the man for striking at Christmas! I won't pretend to know how to solve the problems of the NHS (or our own American healthcare mess), but our British friends must decide that healthcare is indeed a priority over other spending options. My heart goes out to both the patients needing care and to those working in that industry in the UK. But remember--nothing is free when it involves human labor. Nothing.

[VPPAF]

remember its not a cost of living crisis its a cost of lockdowns that they caused

[yehldyehld]

Then start paying them proper wages, give them decent pay rises each year and provide great benefits alongside good working conditions.

Honestly, even if it causes a catastrophe in the UK, I'm all for them striking indefinitely until the government that gets the message. I need the NHS myself and rely on it a lot, but I still hold this view. The government will not learn until something catastrophic happens.

[HumanBeingsRThinkingBeings]

Mind Begs the Question:
- Hitler shifted blame for Nations Failures on Religious Minority
- If Politicians, Govts shift blame for Nations Failures on Vulnerable/Religious Minority/Migrants
- Straight out of Hitlers playbook, no?