Health Secretary Wes Streeting has issued a strong plea to resident doctors, urging them to call off a planned five-day strike scheduled to begin this Friday. Speaking at the NHS Providers’ conference in Manchester, Streeting described the industrial action as “shooting themselves in the foot,” warning that it could cost the NHS approximately £250 million and force cuts to planned investments in the health service. The strike, organised by the British Medical Association (BMA), is a response to doctors’ concerns over insufficient training places and their demand for a 26% pay rise.
Streeting emphasised that resident doctors have already received a substantial pay rise of 28.9% across two years under the current government, highlighting the need for gradual progress rather than immediate, large-scale pay increases. He noted that he has proposed creating 1,000 additional training places, cancelling exam fees, and reducing other out-of-pocket expenses for doctors, but insisted that these offers and future improvements could become unaffordable if the strike goes ahead. He added, “They’re not only setting back the NHS recovery, they’re not only disrupting care for patients, they’re also shooting themselves in the foot.”
The Health Secretary also expressed frustration with the British Medical Association’s tactics, particularly their advice to doctors not to inform employers about their strike plans, which he criticised as "unconscionable" for undermining safe staffing levels during a critical flu season. While acknowledging doctors’ right to strike, Streeting appealed to their sense of duty toward patients and warned about the cascading delays and harm that could extend well into the new year as a result of the walkout.
The BMA’s resident doctors’ committee chairman, Dr Jack Fletcher, responded by saying that without meaningful movement from the government, the strike would proceed as planned. Fletcher stated, “We want to reach a deal on both pay and jobs, that delivers for doctors and patients, but the Government seems intent on preventing this.” NHS Providers’ chief executive, Daniel Elkeles, echoed concerns about patient safety, cautioning that some patients “will come to harm” if the strike takes place.
The impending strike has drawn criticism beyond the government. Notably, Professor Lord Robert Winston, renowned IVF pioneer and television doctor, resigned from the BMA in protest, describing the planned walkout as “highly dangerous” and a potential threat to public trust in the medical profession. Such high-profile dissent highlights the controversy within the medical community over the strike.
In his public statements, Streeting condemned the strike as “reckless” and “irresponsible,” underscoring the extraordinary efforts by NHS leaders and frontline workers to minimise disruption during the industrial action. Despite ongoing negotiations, the government is determined not to concede additional pay increases beyond what has already been awarded, focusing instead on improving training opportunities and cutting costs for doctors.
The strike marks a critical moment of tension between the government and NHS staff. Streeting has repeatedly encouraged the BMA to delay any industrial action, asserting that the ballot was “premature” and “unnecessary” ahead of a forthcoming government pay offer. He urged a partnership approach to resolving issues rather than resorting to walkouts, warning that further strikes could be a “disaster” for both healthcare workers and the patients they serve.
As the strike looms during a particularly challenging flu season, the debate encapsulates broader concerns about the NHS’s capacity to recover from ongoing pressures while balancing fair treatment and remuneration of its staff. The government’s stance, articulated firmly by Wes Streeting, places an onus on resident doctors to weigh the consequences of their strike action carefully in the context of the wider healthcare system and patient welfare.
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Source: Noah Wire Services