# The role of medical students in junior doctors’ strikes: A cross-sectional online survey

## TL;DR

This study explores how medical schools in England guided students during junior doctors' strikes, finding inconsistent advice that could affect student roles and patient safety.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the lack of standardized guidance for medical students during industrial action and its potential risks.

## Key findings

- 62% of medical schools did not cancel clinical placements during strikes, with 10% allowing attendance as a personal choice.
- Only 17% of schools canceled all clinical placements, and 7% provided no guidance.
- One medical school and three placement sites offered paid work to students during the strikes.

## Abstract

The British Medical Association announced a successful vote towards industrial action to achieve ‘pay restoration’ on 20 February 2023; with 11 walkout periods occurring in the following months. During industrial action, concerns arose about the role medical students would play and the pressure placed upon them to ‘act up’. The objective of this study was to assess the guidance issued by medical schools and local placement sites during industrial action.

This cross-sectional study collected online survey data between 7 March 2023 and 7 April 2023 from medical students across England.

Reports about guidance issued by medical schools and hospital placements.

62% of the medical schools issued guidance stating they were not cancelling clinical placements; of these, 10% said attendance was a personal choice. 17% of medical schools cancelled all clinical placements and 7% did not issue guidance. 52% of medical schools monitored attendance on strike days. 1 medical school and 3 clinical placement sites advertised paid work for students during the industrial action.

The impact industrial action has on medical students has not been examined. Our results show mixed guidance from medical schools that can contradict local placement guidance. This lack of guidance is mirrored in the existing, yet limited, literature. If students feel pressured to perform tasks outside their remit, with inadequate supervision, it can impact patient safety and their license to practice. For the safeguarding of patients, and students, further work is needed to produce standardised guidance during industrial action.