Wes Streeting is set to resume discussions with medical professionals this week in a bid to avert further NHS strikes.
The Health Secretary will return to the negotiating table amidst a growing dispute with the British Medical Association, which led resident doctors to engage in a five-day strike just before the holiday season. The BMA is advocating for increased pay and more training opportunities for junior doctors to address bottlenecks that hinder some from securing NHS positions.
Mr. Streeting emphasized the importance of avoiding ongoing industrial action for the benefit of resident doctors, the government, patients, and other healthcare staff.
He assured that there will be a six-week period free of strikes, noting that the BMA is currently in the process of balloting for strike action.
Resident doctors, up to the consultant level, and their BMA representatives have been engaged in a contentious exchange with Mr. Streeting. The Secretary of State disclosed plans to meet with the chair of the BMA’s Resident Doctors Committee in the coming week.
The BMA is pushing for a 26% pay raise over the next few years, citing a decline in real terms salaries based on the Retail Price Index measure of inflation since 2008. On the other hand, the Government’s preferred Consumer Price Index indicates a 5% drop in average resident doctor salaries since 2008, excluding certain costs.
Despite recent pay increases for resident doctors, especially under the Labour party’s government, a disagreement arose over the 5.4% pay rise granted for 2025/26.
An offer from Mr. Streeting to create more NHS training roles for doctors was turned down in a pre-Christmas ballot, with members reportedly put off by the Secretary’s hostile stance towards the BMA leadership.
Accusing the doctors’ union of seeking external funding for increased salaries, Mr. Streeting expressed frustration with the situation. In response, Dr. Jack Fletcher of the BMA’s resident doctors committee accused Mr. Streeting of exaggerating the severity of the current flu surge and its impact on hospitals.
Mr. Streeting emphasized the need to bridge the gap between BMA salary expectations and government affordability, particularly highlighting the disparity on pay compared to job-related matters.
His statement follows the NHS in England’s announcement that 95% of planned care proceeded during the recent strike period. The walkout occurred amid concerns of an early flu outbreak and winter illnesses.
Dr. Fletcher welcomed Mr. Streeting’s willingness to engage in dialogue, stressing the importance of resolving the dispute for the well-being of doctors and patients. He called for concrete solutions to the job crisis and a clear path to restoring professional value, urging the Government to avoid proposing pay cuts and create new job opportunities.
Dr. Fletcher expressed hope that the Government would learn from past mistakes to prevent future strikes and encouraged a collaborative approach in future negotiations.