Streeting denies changing pay deal for resident doctors
Health Secretary Denies Altering Pay Agreement for Resident Doctors
Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, asserted to the BBC that the government had not modified the existing pay arrangement with resident doctors, despite ongoing labor strikes. He emphasized that the “deal” was unchanged and that the British Medical Association (BMA) resident doctors’ committee had “point blank refused” to engage in further talks. However, the BMA countered, stating that the final agreement was shifted to a three-year term at the last moment, which included “reduced investment” and did not align with earlier discussions about shorter-term settlements.
Current Industrial Action and Negotiations
A six-day strike in England is set to conclude at 06:59 on Monday. In a statement to the BBC, Dr. Jack Fletcher, head of the BMA committee, confirmed the union remains “open and willing to meet with the health secretary.” He highlighted that the BMA had consistently “negotiated in good faith” to resolve the dispute, though the final terms of the agreement disappointed them. Streeting, meanwhile, claimed the deal had already offered a 28.9% pay increase within the first weeks of the Labour government, with additional yearly increments of 4.9% and 7.1% for lower-paid doctors.
“There’s a deal on the table that would have given them an average 4.9% more for this year, 7.1% for some of the lowest-paid doctors,” Streeting told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme.
Streeting also addressed the union’s claim of last-minute changes, stating this would not serve his or the government’s interests. He suggested the BMA either “didn’t read the detail” of the deal or chose to “blame the government” for convenience. The health secretary added, “We’ve gone as far as we can, I’m never going to shut the door to the BMA, I’m not pretending I’ve solved all of their problems in less than two years. The BMA need to stop pretending that I can, there has to be some give and take.”
Recent Communication and Context
The interview followed the release of a letter Streeting shared on X, expressing “disappointment and frustration” over the latest walkout. In the letter, he noted that “most of the deal remains on the table” but explained that the BMA’s strikes had forced the government to delay adding 1,000 of the 4,500 extra training spots for this year. Despite a 33% cumulative pay rise over four years, the BMA argues that doctors still earn 20% less than in 2008 when adjusted for inflation.
