What is the Minister's assessment of the potential disruption that may result from the BMA taking industrial action?
Welsh Government will work with the BMA and NHS Wales to ensure life-saving and life-maintaining care is provided during the industrial action, and patient safety is maintained.
As the Junior Doctors strike action takes the form of full walkout, mitigation involves cover being provided by Consultants and SAS Doctors. Health organisations first ensure sufficient staffing is in place for life-saving and life-maintaining care and then establish what planned care can be maintained or requires postponement.
I outlined the planning preparations and formal planning process to you in WQ91449. That established process still stands for the strike planned in March.
We understand the strength of feeling from junior doctors regarding pay, but without additional funding from the UK Government we are unable to offer more. The 5% increase for 2023-24 is at the limits of the finances available to us and reflects the agreement reached with the other health unions for this year.