Resident doctors in England have called off strike action after the Government made a new offer, which will be put to members. The doctors were set to stage a four-day walkout from 7am on Monday, marking the 16th round of strike action since 2023.
However, the British Medical Association (BMA) announced on Saturday that a last-minute offer had been received and will be presented to members for a vote.
Dr Jack Fletcher, chairman of the BMA’s resident doctors committee (RDC), stated: “We have always been clear that no strikes needed to go ahead if we received an offer appropriate to put to our members. This should not have been left to the last moment, but we hold up our end of the bargain when the Government shifts its position.”
He added: “All we have asked for is a fair offer that secures enough jobs to tackle the madness of doctor unemployment and take steps to address the erosion of our pay. Tens of thousands of frontline doctors will now vote in a referendum on whether this offer is sufficient.”
Dr Fletcher emphasized that the BMA will always negotiate in good faith and that strikes are a last resort. “We will only use them in the face of complete Government intransigence. When Government moves, so do we. Doctors will now have their say. If they say no to this offer, we will have to continue our plans for further escalated action across next month.”
