Health Secretary Wes Streeting has warned that planned strikes by resident doctors, combined with a surge in flu cases, could cause the NHS to collapse this Christmas. He described the situation as the “Jenga piece” that might bring down the health service, urging doctors to accept the government’s offer and call off industrial action.
NHS figures published on Thursday show flu cases at a record level for this time of year, with an average of 2,660 patients in hospital daily last week—a 55% increase. Streeting said the number could triple by the peak, calling scenes in hospitals “inexcusable.”
Resident doctors, members of the British Medical Association (BMA), are set to strike from 17-22 December, though a vote on a new government offer could halt the action. Streeting appealed directly to doctors, saying the strikes could be “the Jenga piece that collapses the tower.”
However, Dr Chris Streather, a regional medical director at NHS England, said the NHS is coping and the flu situation is “nothing like the scale” of the Covid pandemic. He noted that preparations for respiratory outbreaks have improved since 2020, with more critical care beds available.
The BMA is surveying members online on whether the new deal—which includes priority for specialty training roles and funding for fees—is sufficient to call off strikes. The poll closes on Monday, two days before the strike is due to start.
Streeting criticised the BMA for not agreeing to reschedule the strikes to January, suggesting they want to cause maximum disruption. He said: “I cannot understand why… they didn’t take up that offer.”
