Health Secretary Wes Streeting has launched a scathing attack on Downing Street's approach to the ongoing NHS junior doctors' strikes, accusing the government of failing to address the crisis effectively. The latest walkout has plunged hospitals into further chaos, with thousands of operations cancelled.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has thrown his weight behind the industrial action, stating that doctors have been "pushed to breaking point" by years of pay erosion and gruelling working conditions. "The NHS cannot function without its junior doctors," Starmer declared.
Growing Tensions Over NHS Pay
The dispute centres on junior doctors demanding a 35% pay rise to compensate for what they claim is a 26% real-terms pay cut since 2008. Streeting, while sympathetic to their cause, has urged both sides to return to negotiations to prevent further disruption to patient care.
"We're seeing the consequences of a decade of underinvestment in our health service," Streeting told reporters outside Westminster. "The government's refusal to engage meaningfully with doctors has brought us to this point."
Impact on Patient Care
NHS England reports that over 100,000 appointments have been postponed due to the latest strike, with cancer treatments and routine surgeries bearing the brunt of cancellations. Hospital chiefs warn the system is operating at "breaking point" as they implement emergency measures.
The British Medical Association maintains that strike action remains a last resort. "Junior doctors don't take this decision lightly," a spokesperson said. "But after years of being ignored, they feel they have no alternative."
Political Fallout
The strikes have become a political battleground, with Labour accusing the Conservatives of mismanaging the NHS. Starmer has pledged to make resolving the dispute a priority if Labour wins the next election, promising a "new deal" for healthcare workers.
Meanwhile, Downing Street insists it has made a "fair and reasonable" pay offer, with a government spokesperson stating: "We urge the BMA to call off these damaging strikes and return to talks."
As the standoff continues, patients face growing uncertainty about when normal NHS services might resume, with further strike dates already announced for the coming weeks.
