Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged resident doctors to abandon planned strike action next week, warning that it would be 'irresponsible' amid a surge in flu cases that has left the NHS facing its worst winter scenario. Speaking to reporters, Starmer said: 'They are being irresponsible in my view. We have already put in place quite a significant pay rise.' He called on medics to 'do the responsible thing, accept the offer that’s on the table, and we can all move forward.'
The government presented the British Medical Association (BMA) with a fresh offer on training places on Wednesday night in a last-ditch attempt to avert a five-day strike due to start next Wednesday. Health Secretary Wes Streeting pledged to double the number of extra places for early career doctors to train in their chosen specialism. BMA leaders described the offer as a 'mixed bag' but agreed to consult members on whether to call off the strike.
NHS England warned it was facing a 'worst-case scenario' after reporting an average of 2,660 patients a day in hospital with flu last week, the highest ever for this time of year and a 55% increase on the previous week. Dr Vicky Price, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, described a 'flu-nami' hitting the NHS, with clinicians reviewing patients in waiting rooms and cupboards used as temporary clinical areas due to lack of space.
Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, expressed hope that the BMA's response could lead to the strikes being called off, saying: 'The government have really listened … and I think what they’ve put on the table is a huge move.' However, union leaders stressed that the offer did not include additional pay for this year or address the demand for a 26% salary rise over the next few years. Dr Jack Fletcher, BMA chair, said the proposals were a 'mixed bag' and lacked detail, noting 'there are no more doctors at the end of this' and 'nothing in this offer which goes in any way towards the significant pay erosion.'
The BMA will conduct an externally verified survey of its members; if a simple majority supports exploring the offer and calling off strikes, next week's action will be cancelled. Dr Shivam Sharma, a deputy co-chair, said the union would put the offer neutrally and factually to members.
