Wes Streeting is set to resume discussions with medical professionals this week in a bid to prevent further NHS strikes. The Health Secretary will return to the negotiating table amidst a contentious dispute with the British Medical Association, which recently led resident doctors on a five-day strike just before the holiday season. The union is advocating for improved wages and more training opportunities for young doctors to alleviate issues that hinder some from securing NHS positions.
Addressing resident doctors, Mr. Streeting emphasized the detrimental impact ongoing industrial action has on the NHS, patients, and staff. He highlighted the importance of dialogue to prevent setbacks caused by strikes. The Health Secretary mentioned that there is currently no live strike mandate, as the BMA is in the process of balloting for one.
Resident doctors, up to consultant level, and their representatives at the BMA have engaged in a heated exchange with Mr. Streeting. The Secretary of State expressed readiness to meet with the chair of the BMA’s Resident Doctors Committee to seek resolutions to the ongoing disagreements.
The BMA is advocating for a 26% pay increase over the coming years, citing a decline in real terms salaries since 2008 based on the Retail Price Index. Conversely, the Government’s preferred inflation measure, the Consumer Price Index, indicates a 5% decrease in average resident doctor salaries since 2008.
Despite recent pay increases for resident doctors, tensions persist, particularly regarding the 5.4% pay raise for 2025/26, which was rejected in a recent ballot. Mr. Streeting’s proposal to create more NHS training roles was turned down, with members expressing discontent over his confrontational approach towards BMA leadership.
Following these developments, Dr. Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, refuted Mr. Streeting’s claims about the severity of the current flu season, emphasizing that the situation is within normal parameters. Both sides aim to bridge the gap on pay issues, recognizing the challenges faced by the NHS during the winter period.
Mr. Streeting’s efforts to resume talks come on the heels of the NHS in England reporting that 95% of pre-planned care was maintained during the last strike despite increased flu cases and winter pressures. The Health Secretary emphasized the financial and operational costs of strikes, underscoring the need for collaborative solutions to safeguard the NHS’s stability and recovery.
Dr. Fletcher welcomed the initiative to resume negotiations, stressing the importance of finding a resolution for the benefit of doctors and patients. He urged the Government to propose concrete solutions to the job crisis and address salary erosion, highlighting the need for genuine job creation and a halt to proposed pay cuts. Dr. Fletcher expressed hope for a constructive dialogue that avoids fear-mongering and fosters a collaborative approach.