Written question WQ90619

We recognise the strength of feeling amongst Junior Doctors and fully acknowledge their right to take industrial action. While we wish to address their pay restoration ambitions, the 5% increase for 2023-4 is at the limits of the finances available to us and reflects the position reached with the other health unions for this year. We will continue to press the UK Government to pass on the funding necessary for full and fair pay rises for public sector workers. Without that additional funding, we are not in a position to currently offer any more. We remain committed to working in social partnership with the British Medical Association and NHS Employers.

The BMA Junior Doctors industrial Action took place 7am 15th January – 7am Thursday 18th January and was a 72 hours continuous strike is was a full walkout of all junior doctors, including those providing emergency cover. The impact of this industrial action was significant. Many non-emergency and elective activities were stood down for the period of the industrial action.

As this was a full walk out there are no derogations agreed in advance by BMA - with the expectation that non-urgent services would be postponed.

Arrangements were put in place for Consultant and Specialist doctors to provide cover whilst also maintaining senior decision-making roles.

The Welsh Government worked closely with BMA Wales and NHS Employers to ensure patient safety was protected during the strike period. We agreed with BMA the circumstances in which striking Junior Doctors may be asked to return to work – ‘derogations’. This included for example a mass casualty incident or unexpected circumstances in which planned cover is not available on the day of the strikes. A robust mechanism was in place for the strike period to ensure requests for derogations are dealt with quickly and correctly. A joint statement from Welsh Government, BMA Wales and NHS Employers Wales was issued to all Health Boards/Trusts clarifying the derogations process.

The agreed strike day derogations process was in place had been tested with NHS Employers and BMA officials available on rota 24/7 to deal with any requests from health boards.

Planning and mitigation measures were such that no derogation requests were required.

In order to mitigate the impact of the industrial action, planning and response structures were stood up across NHS Wales. Self-assessment preparedness templates were issued to Health Boards/Trusts to support planning and preparedness for NHS organisations. Guidance and frequently asked questions were developed in partnership with the Welsh Government and issued to all Health Boards/Trusts by NHS Employers Wales. Throughout each day of industrial action health boards met NHS Executive to provide details of the strike impact on services and to escalate any issues as required.