Doctors to strike on Isle of Man for first time

Doctors are set to go on strike for the first time in the Isle of Man's history next week in a row over pay.

The British Medical Association (BMA) confirmed members would walk out for 48 hours from 07:00 on 22 January after recent negotiations with Manx Care were unsuccessful.

The union's call for a 12.6% uplift for the 2023-24 pay award year was rejected as "unaffordable" by the healthcare provider, which implemented 6% as an interim measure instead.

Manx Care said it remained in discussions with the BMA in a bid to resolve the dispute and would focus on reducing the "impact and harm" to patients during the walkout.

The healthcare provider said the union had given "the minimum notice required" and the announcement had come after a "further productive meeting" on Tuesday with the support of the Manx Industrial Relations Service.

A spokeswoman said Manx Care's focus would be on planning for the industrial action "with the priority being to reduce impact and harm to patients and service users".

The BMA confirmed doctors would "operate under Christmas day cover" on the strike days, which would see emergency care still be available for those who need it, but many other services "limited".

The union said it would continue discussions with Manx Care "with the hope that they will make the doctors an acceptable offer like their mainland counterparts and avert the strike".

In December, Manx Care said it had revised its existing offer of a 6% uplift for the 2023-24 year and a further 4% rise for 2024-25 in December to match salaries in England, which last week it said was "not accepted" by the union.

Chairman of the Isle of Man Medical Society Prakash Thiagarajan said doctors "have no desire to go on strike", but had "made clear to Manx Care that this would be the outcome without an acceptable pay offer".

He said: "The pay cuts we've seen over the last decade have become untenable.

"It's disappointing to find ourselves in this position, but the solution is clear: restore our lost pay."

However he said there was "still time for an offer to be put forward and these strikes averted".

Last month, 95% of BMA members balloted, which included doctors, salaried dentists and consultants, said they were prepared to strike.

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