Health Secretary Wes Streeting has launched a blistering attack on the British Medical Association (BMA), accusing the doctors' union of 'cartel-like behaviour' and warning that its actions threaten the future of the NHS. Speaking ahead of a five-day strike by resident doctors starting Friday, Streeting told the BMA to 'get real' over its pay demands and insisted the government would not be 'held to ransom'.
Streeting made his comments at the annual conference of NHS Providers, where he received loud applause from NHS leaders. He said the BMA is 'no longer a professional voice for doctors' and that its behaviour is 'morally reprehensible'. The health secretary also criticised the BMA for lobbying against higher taxes for doctors while demanding other workers pay more to fund salary increases.
Resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, are striking for the 13th time since March 2023, demanding 'full pay restoration'. Their salaries have risen by 28.9% over the last three years, but they are seeking a further 26% over the next few years to compensate for pay erosion since 2008. Average salaries for doctors in England stand at £88,269, with consultants earning around £127,540, while resident doctors' basic pay ranges from £38,831 to £73,992.
Streeting highlighted that many NHS staff have not received pay rises comparable to those of resident doctors and will never earn as much as the lowest-paid doctor. NHS trust leaders are deeply concerned about the disruption the strike will cause, particularly as hospitals are already under pressure from an early flu season. One trust chief executive warned that during strikes, 'there is a risk that people will die who wouldn't otherwise have come to harm.'
