RCN and BMA in Wales launch petition to end corridor care
The unions are urging the public to sign the petition, as they believe this practice puts patients at risk of significant harm.
The petition was prompted by numerous reports from doctors and nurses about the negative impact of corridor care.
Helen Whyley, executive director of RCN Wales, said: "We are beyond breaking point.
"I have travelled across Wales and witnessed people in pain, confused and frightened, with no privacy, no dignity, and no proper care environment.
"Corridor care is unsafe, undignified, and unacceptable."
Stephen Kelly, chair of the BMA's Welsh Consultants Committee, said: "When a patient is not placed in a bed space there's a chance something vital may be missed, there's no access to monitoring equipment and no privacy to carry out certain procedures.
"This is dangerous and is putting patients' lives at risk."
The unions hope the petition will prompt action from the Welsh Government.
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South Wales Argus
31 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Public support for doctor strikes is declining
The survey found about half (52%) of people in the UK either 'somewhat oppose' (20%) or 'strongly oppose' (32%) the idea of resident doctors going on strike over pay. Meanwhile, a third (34%) of the 4,954 adults surveyed either 'somewhat support' (23%) or 'strongly support' (11%) doctor strikes. Most Britons are now opposed to resident doctors going on strike over pay, as currently scheduled to take place from Friday Support: 34% (-5 from 27 May)Oppose: 52% (+4) — YouGov (@YouGov) July 21, 2025 Older people are more likely to be against, with 52% of those aged over 65 'strongly opposed', compared with 10% of those aged 18 to 24. YouGov said the proportion supporting the strike over pay has dropped five points since it last asked the question in May. Back then, 48% opposed resident doctors striking, while 39% supported them taking action. It comes as the British Medical Association (BMA) condemned NHS England's plans for the health service during the five-day walkout, which begins at 7am on Friday. NHS England has written to NHS bosses urging them not to cancel pre-planned care wherever possible. The letter urges the health system to focus on maintaining emergency care, maintaining the flow of patients and 'maintaining elective care to the fullest extent possible' as well as 'priority treatments' such as cancer care. 'It will be important for systems and trusts to try and maintain normal levels of booked activity…' the letter said. It added: 'Reducing volumes of bookings and rescheduling of appointments and other activity should only happen in exceptional circumstances to safeguard patient safety.' We've written to NHS England with concerns about inadequate planning ahead of possible strike action later this week. Attempts to run non-urgent services with fewer doctors risk patient safety. It's imperative that Trusts postpone work to protect urgent and emergency care. — The BMA (@TheBMA) July 21, 2025 On Tuesday morning, BMA deputy chairwoman Dr Emma Runswick told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the plan risked patient safety. She said: 'We've had proven systems over the last decade that have made sure that where we have to take strike action, senior doctors cover urgency and critical care. 'This time round, NHS England are pushing for the continuation of non-urgent and scheduled care in a way that we think at best is confusing and will create on-the-day cancellations – and at worst could be risky and lead to harm in emergency departments and on wards, because senior doctors cannot physically be in two places at once. 'We think that a notional guidance from NHS England which is saying that basically all scheduled work should continue to go ahead has potential to be seriously risky for patients.' During previous rounds of industrial action in 2023 and 2024, NHS England told trusts they could cancel large volumes of non-urgent care so that consultants could step in to cover emergency services. But under the leadership of new NHS England chief executive Sir Jim Mackey, hospitals have been given tougher rules over cancellations and said they may need prior approval. Dr Runswick said: 'Senior doctors are needed to be freed up in order to provide urgency and critical care. 'We think the vast majority of planned and unscheduled care should be shifted. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has ruled out any additional pay rise (Lucy North/PA) 'There are always, in every hospital, local medical managers, local clinical leaders, who will make decisions about what is safe to go ahead – but trying to maintain scheduled care during this strike is not safe in many cases.' Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS England's co-national medical director for secondary care, said: 'The safest thing for patients is for the NHS to maintain as much urgent and planned care as possible during strikes, and we would encourage the BMA to work with us constructively to achieve this in the event industrial action goes ahead.' Talks between the Government and the BMA have continued in recent days, though Health Secretary Wes Streeting has ruled out extra pay rises. The BMA has also issued guidance for consultants regarding the extra pay they can seek for covering work during the strike that is not in their contracts. The BMA 'rate card' says consultants can ask for £188 per hour on weekdays from 7am-7pm and £250 an hour from 7pm to 11pm. At weekends, the pay claim can rise to £250 per hour from 7am to 11am and £313 per hour for overnight work from 11pm to 7am. The BMA guidance to consultants regarding the strike said: 'Consultants will no doubt want to work with employers to ensure that services are still able to operate effectively. Consultants and SAS doctors in England – look out for your indicative ballot email from @TheBMA today! Wes Streeting called pay restoration "a journey, not an event" – so why have we stopped? Are you prepared to stand up to demand your value is recognised by the government? — Tom Dolphin🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️ (@thomasdolphin) July 21, 2025 'However, they should not be expected to do so without agreement and without being appropriately remunerated… 'If you choose to cover such work, we recommend that you negotiate payment at an appropriate rate using our consultant rate card for non-contractual work.' Resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, were awarded an average 5.4% pay increase this financial year, following a 22% rise over the previous two years. However, the BMA says real-terms pay has still fallen by around 20% since 2008, and is pushing for full 'pay restoration'. Resident doctors are qualified doctors in clinical training. They have completed a medical degree and can have up to nine years of working experience as a hospital doctor, depending on their specialty, or up to five years of working and gaining experience to become a general practitioner (GP).
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
NHS England approach to doctors' strike ‘seriously risky', BMA warns
British Medical Association (BMA) deputy chairwoman Dr Emma Runswick told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Tuesday that guidance issued by the health service to keep most planned care running during the walkout could cause dangerous confusion and overstretch staff. 'We've had proven systems over the last decade that have made sure that where we have to take strike action, senior doctors cover urgency and critical care,' she said. 'This time round, NHS England are pushing for the continuation of non-urgent and scheduled care in a way that we think at best is confusing and will create on-the-day cancellations – and at worst could be risky and lead to harm in emergency departments and on wards, because senior doctors cannot physically be in two places at once. 'We think that a notional guidance from NHS England which is saying that basically all scheduled work should continue to go ahead has potential to be seriously risky for patients.' Her comments come amid an escalating row between NHS bosses and the BMA over how hospitals should respond to the strike, which is due to begin at 7am on Friday. During previous rounds of industrial action in 2023 and 2024, NHS England told trusts to cancel large volumes of non-urgent care so that consultants could step in to cover emergency services. But under the leadership of new NHS England chief executive Sir Jim Mackey, hospitals have now been instructed to cancel non-urgent work only in 'exceptional circumstances' – and only with prior approval. The BMA argues this new approach risks spreading non-striking doctors too thinly, with Dr Runswick warning: 'Senior doctors are needed to be freed up in order to provide urgency and critical care. 'We think the vast majority of planned and unscheduled care should be shifted. 'There are always, in every hospital, local medical managers, local clinical leaders, who will make decisions about what is safe to go ahead – but trying to maintain scheduled care during this strike is not safe in many cases.' When asked why the union could not avoid strikes altogether, she said walkouts can be delivered safely if planned properly. 'Strikes by doctors do not have to be risky,' she said. 'Strikes by doctors have been run safely in 2016 and 2022, 2023, 2024. 'We are entirely capable of running strikes safely – they just have to be planned for with local medical leadership, and we've done that before. We can do it again.' She said the BMA was still hopeful a resolution could be reached before the walkout begins and was 'keen to work with NHS England to ensure they are best planned for the safest care'. Talks between the Government and the BMA have continued in recent days, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting ruling out any additional pay rise this year but indicating other aspects of the contract – such as student debt, exam fees and working conditions – may be up for negotiation. Resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, were awarded an average 5.4% pay increase this financial year, following a 22% rise over the previous two years. However, the BMA says real-terms pay has still fallen by around 20% since 2008, and is pushing for full 'pay restoration'. Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS England's co-national medical director for secondary care, said: 'The safest thing for patients is for the NHS to maintain as much urgent and planned care as possible during strikes, and we would encourage the BMA to work with us constructively to achieve this in the event industrial action goes ahead.'
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Public support for doctor strikes is declining
Meanwhile, a third (34%) of the 4,954 adults surveyed either 'somewhat support' (23%) or 'strongly support' (11%) doctor strikes. Most Britons are now opposed to resident doctors going on strike over pay, as currently scheduled to take place from Friday Support: 34% (-5 from 27 May)Oppose: 52% (+4) — YouGov (@YouGov) July 21, 2025 Older people are more likely to be against, with 52% of those aged over 65 'strongly opposed', compared with 10% of those aged 18 to 24. YouGov said the proportion supporting the strike over pay has dropped five points since it last asked the question in May. Back then, 48% opposed resident doctors striking, while 39% supported them taking action. It comes as the British Medical Association (BMA) condemned NHS England's plans for the health service during the five-day walkout, which begins at 7am on Friday. NHS England has written to NHS bosses urging them not to cancel pre-planned care wherever possible. The letter urges the health system to focus on maintaining emergency care, maintaining the flow of patients and 'maintaining elective care to the fullest extent possible' as well as 'priority treatments' such as cancer care. 'It will be important for systems and trusts to try and maintain normal levels of booked activity…' the letter said. It added: 'Reducing volumes of bookings and rescheduling of appointments and other activity should only happen in exceptional circumstances to safeguard patient safety.' We've written to NHS England with concerns about inadequate planning ahead of possible strike action later this week. Attempts to run non-urgent services with fewer doctors risk patient safety. It's imperative that Trusts postpone work to protect urgent and emergency care. — The BMA (@TheBMA) July 21, 2025 On Tuesday morning, BMA deputy chairwoman Dr Emma Runswick told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the plan risked patient safety. She said: 'We've had proven systems over the last decade that have made sure that where we have to take strike action, senior doctors cover urgency and critical care. 'This time round, NHS England are pushing for the continuation of non-urgent and scheduled care in a way that we think at best is confusing and will create on-the-day cancellations – and at worst could be risky and lead to harm in emergency departments and on wards, because senior doctors cannot physically be in two places at once. 'We think that a notional guidance from NHS England which is saying that basically all scheduled work should continue to go ahead has potential to be seriously risky for patients.' During previous rounds of industrial action in 2023 and 2024, NHS England told trusts they could cancel large volumes of non-urgent care so that consultants could step in to cover emergency services. But under the leadership of new NHS England chief executive Sir Jim Mackey, hospitals have been given tougher rules over cancellations and said they may need prior approval. Dr Runswick said: 'Senior doctors are needed to be freed up in order to provide urgency and critical care. 'We think the vast majority of planned and unscheduled care should be shifted. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has ruled out any additional pay rise (Lucy North/PA) 'There are always, in every hospital, local medical managers, local clinical leaders, who will make decisions about what is safe to go ahead – but trying to maintain scheduled care during this strike is not safe in many cases.' Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS England's co-national medical director for secondary care, said: 'The safest thing for patients is for the NHS to maintain as much urgent and planned care as possible during strikes, and we would encourage the BMA to work with us constructively to achieve this in the event industrial action goes ahead.' Talks between the Government and the BMA have continued in recent days, though Health Secretary Wes Streeting has ruled out extra pay rises. The BMA has also issued guidance for consultants regarding the extra pay they can seek for covering work during the strike that is not in their contracts. The BMA 'rate card' says consultants can ask for £188 per hour on weekdays from 7am-7pm and £250 an hour from 7pm to 11pm. At weekends, the pay claim can rise to £250 per hour from 7am to 11am and £313 per hour for overnight work from 11pm to 7am. The BMA guidance to consultants regarding the strike said: 'Consultants will no doubt want to work with employers to ensure that services are still able to operate effectively. Consultants and SAS doctors in England – look out for your indicative ballot email from @TheBMA today! Wes Streeting called pay restoration "a journey, not an event" – so why have we stopped? Are you prepared to stand up to demand your value is recognised by the government? — Tom Dolphin🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️ (@thomasdolphin) July 21, 2025 'However, they should not be expected to do so without agreement and without being appropriately remunerated… 'If you choose to cover such work, we recommend that you negotiate payment at an appropriate rate using our consultant rate card for non-contractual work.' Resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, were awarded an average 5.4% pay increase this financial year, following a 22% rise over the previous two years. However, the BMA says real-terms pay has still fallen by around 20% since 2008, and is pushing for full 'pay restoration'. Resident doctors are qualified doctors in clinical training. They have completed a medical degree and can have up to nine years of working experience as a hospital doctor, depending on their specialty, or up to five years of working and gaining experience to become a general practitioner (GP).
