Resident doctors in England have begun a five-day strike after rejecting the government's latest offer, escalating the long-running dispute over pay and conditions. The industrial action, which started on Wednesday, will last until 7am on Monday, marking the 14th strike by junior doctors since March 2023.
The British Medical Association (BMA) and Health Secretary Wes Streeting met on Tuesday in a final attempt to reach an agreement, but talks failed. The government's offer included increased training places for early career doctors but no pay rise for the current financial year. In a BMA survey, 83% of resident doctors voted against the offer, with a 65% turnout.
Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA's resident doctors committee, said the strike demonstrates doctors' willingness to stand up for their profession against a 'totally avoidable jobs crisis'. He called on ministers to provide a long-term plan for pay and jobs to prevent further strikes.
NHS leaders have warned of significant disruption, with Prof Meghana Pandit, NHS England's national medical director, noting that the strikes come at a challenging time with high flu admissions. 'More patients are likely to feel the impact of this round of strikes than the previous two,' she said.
A Department of Health spokesperson confirmed that every effort was made to avert the strikes, but no agreement was reached. The focus now is on minimising disruption to patient care.
