Health secretary Wes Streeting has called on resident doctors to defy the British Medical Association (BMA) and not join the strike starting on Friday, arguing the action undermines the entire trade union movement. In an article for the Guardian, Streeting described the BMA's decision to strike immediately after receiving a 22% pay rise for 2023-24 and 2024-25 as unprecedented and unreasonable.
Streeting condemned the BMA's demand for a further 29% rise over the next few years, noting that while 90% of those who voted backed the strike, turnout was just over 55% of members. He said the move to strike after the offer of a 5.4% pay rise for 2025-26 was rushed and bitterly disappointing, given efforts to improve NHS services.
“There was a deal here to be done,” Streeting wrote. “Instead, the BMA leadership’s decision to not even consider postponing these strikes will place an enormous burden on their colleagues, and hit the recovery we can all see our health service is making.” He added that no trade union in British history had seen such a steep pay rise followed immediately by strikes, especially when a majority of members did not vote.
The BMA argued that resident doctors' pay has fallen in real terms since 2008-09, stating: “Doctors are not worth less than they were 17 years ago. We’re simply asking for that value to be restored.” Streeting claimed that some resident doctors had privately expressed dismay at the strike, feeling the BMA leadership was out of step with patients and most members.
The strike runs until 7am next Wednesday. The public has been urged to continue seeking NHS care, with NHS England advising hospitals to keep routine operations unless patient safety is at risk. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges urged the BMA to suspend guidance that doctors need not share strike intentions with employers, to aid hospital planning. Fewer doctors are expected to strike than in previous rounds, due to a smaller mandate.
