MIGRANT DOCTOR: GMB’s Adil Ray halts show for BREAKING NEWS announcement as viewers ISSUE warning

Good Morning Britain came to an unexpected halt minutes into the ITV morning show as Adil Ray issued a breaking news update on the five-day doctors strike. On Friday (July 25), the 51-year-old broadcaster woke up the nation alongside co-host Charlotte Hawkins where they discussed the biggest news hitting the headlines. Halfway through the show, the dad-of-one revealed that doctors have officially walked out of hospitals and begun their five-day strike across the UK.

The doctors, previously known as junior doctors, were awarded a 5.4% pay rise for this financial year, following a 22% increase over the previous two years. But the British Medical Association (BMA) stated wages are still aorund 20% lower in real terms than in 2008 and are demanding “pay restoration”. They argued that the government had every opportunity to stop the walkout.

The public is being advised to attend planned appointments over the strike period, as NHS England hospital bosses attempt to maintain routine operations and only reschedule appointments in exceptional circumstances.

As the show returned after an ad break, Charlotte began: “Here’s our breaking news this morning. Around 50,000 resident doctors in England have walked out this morning to begin a five-day strike over pay.

“NHS bosses have called the action unnecessary, irresponsible and reckless, with the health secretary warning it will inflict untold misery on patients.” Adil added: “Last minute pleas have failed to stop the walkout with the BMA doctors union saying all their asking for is an extra £4 an hour.”

But the BMA said wages were still around 20% lower in real terms than in 2008, even after an increase in August. The BMA wants to pay to be brought back in live with the level it was 17 years ago, when they say their pay started to be eroded.

It didn’t take long before viewers flooded to X – formerly known as Twitter to share their thoughtst online. Some viewers supported doctors, with one user writing: “The NHS is collapsing – not because of doctors and nurses, but due to years of underlying, chronic understaffing, creeping privatisation, and political mismanagement. While patients suffer, profits soar elsewhere. But yes, let’s villify doctors and nurses #GMB.”

Another agreed: “So doctors are going on strike again, great job @wesstreeting and Labour. You are also in the process of giving unions even more power. #gmb.” A third echoed: “These are doctors, the elite of society. They could leave, go in to the city and make millions, go in to private healthcare and have less pressure. Therer’s casualty units having to permanently shut because they can’t get doctors #GMB.”

It comes after Sir Keir Starmer said the walkouts threatened “to turn back the clock on progress we have made in the rebuilding the NHS over the last year”. This year, resident doctors are getting an average pay rise of 5.4%, following a 22% increase over the previous two years.

Meanwhile others argued that there is too much at risk with another strike on the cards. One user fumed: “These doctors are selfish and greedy, they get enough money already #gmb” as another suggested: “Dear potential doctors. Don’t go into a career where you will be constantly moaning about pay. Choose something else. #gmb.”

The prime minister’s comments come after Health Secretary Wes Streeting confessed he deeply regretted the “position we now find outselves in” in a letter to resident doctors on Thursday (July 24).

He warned the government could not afford to go further on pay, but he was “prepared to negotiate on areas related to your conditions at work and career progression.” Streeting added the pay deal was “the highest pay award of the entire public sector for resident doctors”.

The BMA asked for a scheme to help write off student loans, but the government rejected this. BMA resident doctor co-leaders Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt said: “Resident doctors are not worth less than they were 17 years ago.

“Restoring pay remains the simplest and most effective route toward improving our working lives. Mr Streeting had every opportunity to prevent this strike going ahead, but he chose not to take it.”

Good Morning Britain airs on weekdays from 6am on ITV1 or catch up on ITVX.