Resident doctors have accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of damaging prospects for a deal to end their pay and jobs dispute, after he threatened to cut 1,000 new training roles. The British Medical Association (BMA) claims the government's approach has inflamed tensions, making next week's six-day strike more likely.
The BMA's resident doctors committee rejected the government's final offer last week, which included a pledge to create up to 4,500 additional specialist training places over three years. However, Health Secretary Wes Streeting warned that 1,000 of those slots, due to start in August, would be scrapped unless the union accepts the deal by Thursday's deadline.
Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA's resident doctors committee, wrote to Streeting on Wednesday, stating that the threat to remove training places has 'needlessly and avoidably inflamed the dispute, ultimately pushing the chance of a deal further away.' He added that the move has heightened fears among residents about career progression.
Starmer wrote in The Times on Tuesday that rejecting the 'historic deal' would be reckless, as it includes above-inflation pay rises. The BMA and government remain divided on issues such as the timing of £700 million in 'progression pay' and the union's demand for multi-year pay deals until 2029.
The Department of Health and Social Care defended its position, saying the BMA's decision to strike means the 1,000 extra training places cannot be delivered operationally or financially this year. NHS leaders fear severe disruption from the strike, which coincides with Easter school holidays.
