Health Secretary Wes Streeting has launched a scathing attack on the British Medical Association (BMA), accusing the doctors' union of "juvenile delinquency" over plans for a five-day strike in the run-up to Christmas.
Christmas Walkout Poses 'Different Magnitude of Risk'
Mr Streeting branded the planned industrial action "irresponsible", stating it presents a "different magnitude of risk" to patient safety compared to previous walkouts. The strike is scheduled to begin at 7am on 17 December and continue until 22 December.
Speaking to Sky News, the Health Secretary expressed deep concern. "I don’t want to be catastrophic about it, but it is a different order of risk and I am genuinely worried," he said when asked if patients could die due to the disruption.
BMA and Government at Loggerheads Over Pay and Access
The BMA has announced the strike dates, accusing the government of failing to make "sufficient progress towards a viable deal on jobs and pay" for junior doctors. The union also remains in a formal dispute with ministers over the rollout of online GP booking systems.
Mr Streeting criticised the BMA's stance on this issue, suggesting the union was acting like "moaning minnies". He highlighted that 98.7% of GP practices are now delivering the online access mandated by the government from 1 October.
"You would think from the BMA that I've had to drag GPs kicking and screaming... In fact, it's been the opposite. GPs have responded. They're up for it," he stated.
Intense Pressure Feared as Medics Say They Have 'No Choice'
The Christmas strike action is expected to place "intense" pressure on NHS services, which are already grappling with surging flu cases and staff sickness. This will be the 14th round of strikes by junior doctors since March 2023, with the summer walkout alone estimated to have cost the health service £300 million.
However, medics argue they have been left with little option. Dr Jack Fletcher, chairman of the BMA’s junior doctors committee, said: "With the government failing to put forward a credible plan to fix the jobs crisis... we have no choice but to announce more strike dates."
He added that a resolution was "well within the reach of this government" through fair pay and job security fixes. The previous strikes took place from 25 to 30 July and 14 to 19 November this year.
