Health Secretary Wes Streeting has issued a stark warning to junior doctors, telling them to take responsibility for the damage their five-day strike will inflict on progress to cut NHS waiting lists.
A Heated Exchange on Live Radio
As medics formed picket lines on the first morning of the latest industrial action, a furious Mr Streeting declared the doctors' union, the British Medical Association (BMA), was behaving like a "cartel". The tense confrontation spilled over into a live phone call on LBC radio, where the Health Secretary clashed with a resident doctor named Niraj from Harrow.
Niraj explained to the Health Secretary, "Of course we all care about patient safety. None of us wants to be on strike. I would rather be at work today." However, he firmly stated that the government's offer to the BMA was insufficient, arguing that proposals to fund mandatory exams and ensure enough training places were things "anybody would expect from a reasonable employer" and should not be used as bargaining chips.
Streeting's Furious Rebuke
Mr Streeting did not hold back in his response. He hit back live on air, stating, "Don't tell me you don't want to be out on strike because that's exactly where you are. You made that choice, own it and own the damage it will do to your patients."
He accused the union of holding patients to ransom and labelled the BMA's behaviour as "extremely irresponsible" and "reprehensible". The Health Secretary emphasised that junior doctors had received a 28.9% pay rise and were being offered the chance to work with a government that acknowledges the challenges.
The Wider Impact and Reaction
This five-day walkout marks the 13th strike by the BMA since March 2023. The previous industrial action in July was estimated to have cost the health service a staggering £300 million. The last time junior doctors walked out, it led to the cancellation or rescheduling of more than 54,000 procedures and appointments.
The strike proceeds despite new polling from The Times suggesting that 48% of resident doctors wanted the action called off, with only 33% believing it should go ahead. Adding to the pressure, NHS Confederation chief executive Matthew Taylor urged the BMA to call off the "disproportionate" strikes, moderate their demands, and return to negotiations, noting the tough financial environment and the significant pay rises already awarded.
