Wes Streeting has set a deadline for striking doctors to reconsider and accept his proposed pay agreement within a week or risk losing the offer.
The Health Secretary addressed the House of Commons following the announcement by the British Medical Association of a planned six-day NHS strike in England after the Easter weekend, potentially leading to the cancellation of numerous operations.
Streeting criticized the BMA’s resident doctors committee for unilaterally rejecting the deal without consulting members. Although the headline pay increase was 3.5% for 2026/27, he argued that the overall package would result in a 4.9% average pay raise for resident doctors.
He emphasized that the BMA has until the following Thursday to reconsider the offer before potential consequences for NHS operations and resources due to the strike. Resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, are scheduled to commence their strike at 7 am on April 7.
The dispute revolves around the BMA committee’s claims of last-minute alterations by the government to the pay deal, including a phased implementation of certain pay adjustments over three years.
In response, Dr. Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s Resident Doctors Committee, expressed disappointment in the government’s approach and urged a reversal of the recent changes for further negotiations.
NHS England’s leadership expressed frustration over the breakdown of negotiations, highlighting efforts to reach a mutually beneficial agreement and the need to navigate a potentially prolonged period of dispute.
The BMA’s demand for a 26% pay increase over the coming years reflects concerns over declining real terms salaries since 2008, as measured by different inflation indices.
The government’s offer includes various concessions aimed at boosting resident doctors’ earnings and expanding training opportunities, with the expectation of a substantial salary increase over four years.
The ongoing conflict between the government and resident doctors has resulted in significant financial losses for the NHS, with multiple strikes impacting operations and services.
