Manx Care: 'Our priority is to reduce impact and harm during strikes'

Doctors to strike for first time in Island's history

Manx Care says its priority is to reduce impact and harm to patients and service users during strike action by Island doctors. 

For the first time in history they’ll walk out from 7am on Wednesday, 22 January until 7am on Friday, 24 January.

The British Medical Association says it’s because the health body has failed to produce a ‘credible pay offer’.

It had asked for a 12.6 percent uplift. 

Chair of the BMA Professor Phil Banfield said: "The BMA stands behind Isle of Man doctors as they make the historic decision to go out on strike for the very first time.

"We trust that Manx Care see how serious this issue is and act quickly to provide Isle of Man doctors with a credible pay offer that can avert strike action and values the expertise that doctors bring to the health and well-being of the Island.” 

Dr Sean Crerand and Dr Prakash Thiagarajan spoke to Phil Gawne after the announcement was made: 

Manx Care says it will provide a service update as soon as possible. 

It adds a ‘productive meeting’ was held with the BMA yesterday (14 January) with support from the Manx Industrial Relations Service.

Manx Radio has also invited Chief Minister Alfred Cannan to respond.