NHS and health

Healthcare staff should not report suspected illegal abortions to the police as prosecutions are never in the public interest, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has said. The health unions should join the Royal College in issuing advice to health workers against reporting abortions to the police. Dr Ranee Thakar, the College’s president, said “outdated and antiquated” abortion laws meant women were “left vulnerable to criminal investigation.” The comments have provoked a backlash from anti-choice groups and have intensified attention on decriminalisation of abortion...

On 16 and 17 January, the Tories could lose Commons votes on their Bill trying to save their “send them to Rwanda” asylum policy. Even if they win, they have a battle to work the bIll, which tries to instruct courts Rwanda must be reckoned safe even if it is not. From 30 January, train drivers are striking. As yet, the government and the Train Operating Companies (TOCs) hesitate about deploying the new Minimum Service Law, which allows for the TOCs to issue “work notices” instructing drivers to turn up sufficiently for 40% service, and to get the whole strike ruled unlawful unless the union...

“Leading world authority” in oncology Professor Karol Sikora, writing recently about the Covid Inquiry (in the Daily Telegraph and on Twitter/X), has called it “pro-lockdown” and a gigantic waste of money. Sikora is a vocal opponent of blanket pandemic lockdowns, arguing these are more harmful than the effects of Covid itself.

Every year, at least 40 million women are likely to experience a long-term health problem caused by childbirth, according to a new study published on 6 December.

Junior doctors struck again for three days before Christmas (20-23 December) and six days after (3-9 January). Since March they have had 34 days of strikes in their campaign for “pay restoration” (reversal of large real-terms pay cuts since 2008). Their action, far more determined than other public-sector strikes, and escalating in December, has moved the government. Yet what is being offered to the junior doctors remains poor, yet another real-terms pay cut for many. In London British Medical Association (BMA) members organised city-wide pickets or demonstrations at different hospitals on...

Junior doctors are striking again after rejecting a feeble 3% boost to their pay offer.

After a year in which the NHS and other public services have crumbled as never before, the Tories’ 22 November Autumn Statement responded by tax cuts for big business and no relief for public services. Even before winter starts, the NHS waiting list (on latest available figures , September 2023) is still rising, and at a record level of 7.8 million in England. It was a bit over two million before the Tories came to office in 2010. Most patients (57.6%) on the waiting list in September 2023 had been there for more than 18 weeks. 391,122 cases had been waiting more than 52 weeks and some for...

The government has made a new pay offer to consultants (senior doctors), and the consultants’ union, the BMA, will ballot on it from mid-December to late July. In February the Tories said no NHS worker would get more than 3.5% in 2023-4. In July they shifted to 6%, and said there would be no more talks. After doctors struck, there were of course new talks. The BMA said the offer will bring more pay rises to doctors, varying from 0% to 12.8%, improve the Pay Review Body, and speed up pay progression. BMA junior doctors, however, still face only the July offer of 6%. “Speciality and specialist”...

Solidarity goes to press on Tuesday 21st, the day before Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement. Speculation swirls about what tax cut the Tories will offer, and whether and how they will clip inflation-uprating of benefits to suit. The Tories have considered cutting inheritance tax (essentially, for millionaires only), but optics may push them to cut income tax or National Insurance rates instead. Tax percentages are higher than before. The Tories have not changed income-tax thresholds, so with inflation more people pay higher income-tax rates. VAT has been at 20% since 2011 (it was 10%...

After more strikes by members of the British Medical Association in September and October, including the first coordinated action by junior doctors and consultants, the Tories have agreed to more talks (starting in the week beginning 23 October). The union’s hand in the talks would surely be stronger if it called more strikes now. At the moment no strike dates are set. And once we get into December and January, after months of delay and at a time when pressure and crisis in the NHS will worsen because of winter, it will surely be a challenge to get action back on. The doctors’ struggle has...