Junior doctors in Wales have been taking part in a three-day strike this week over pay.
Cwmbran Life spoke to Dr Hannah Wise, a surgical trainee with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, outside the Royal Gwent Hospital this morning. She said newly qualified doctors get £13.65 an hour and how their pay had been ‘eroded’ by 29% since 2008. She spoke about doctors leaving Wales to work in other countries leaving problems with hospitals filling rotas.
The doctors’ trade union, BMA Wales, said that around 4,000 had taken part in the 72-hour walkout. It has rejected a 5 per cent pay offer from the Welsh government.
The Guardian reported that Eluned Morgan, health minister, said: “We fully understand the strength of feeling behind the strike action. But our funding settlement, which comes largely from the UK government in the form of a block grant, is simply not sufficient to recognise the demands junior doctors are making. The UK government has failed to properly fund public services.”