Health secretary Wes Streeting has launched a blistering attack on the British Medical Association (BMA), accusing the doctors' union of 'cartel-like behaviour' and endangering the future of the NHS. Speaking ahead of a five-day strike by resident doctors starting Friday, Streeting told the BMA to 'get real' and insisted ministers would not be 'held to ransom' over pay demands.
Streeting made his comments at the annual conference of NHS Providers, drawing loud applause from trust leaders. He said the BMA was 'no longer a professional voice for doctors' and that its actions 'threaten not just the recovery of the NHS under this government, they threaten the future of the NHS, full stop.' The health secretary also criticised the BMA for lobbying against higher taxes for doctors while demanding pay rises funded by others.
Resident doctors have seen salaries rise by 28.9% over three years but are seeking a further 26% to restore pay lost since 2008. Average doctor salaries in England stand at £88,269, with consultants earning £127,540. Basic pay for resident doctors ranges from £38,831 to £73,992. Streeting noted that many NHS staff earn far less and have not received comparable pay increases.
NHS trust leaders fear the strike will cause significant disruption, particularly as hospitals are already under pressure from an early flu season. One chief executive warned that during strikes, 'there is a risk that people will die who wouldn’t otherwise have come to harm.' The walkout is the 13th by resident doctors since their campaign began in March 2023.
