Streeting denies changing pay deal for resident doctors

Streeting denies changing pay deal for resident doctors

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has refuted claims that the government altered the pay agreement with resident doctors to resolve recent strikes. He emphasized that the deal was not modified to end the ongoing industrial action, stating it was “categorically” unchanged. Streeting also mentioned his intention to engage with the British Medical Association (BMA) representatives, calling them “organ grinders,” but noted they had “flatly rejected” further discussions.

BMA’s Counterpoints on Pay and Inflation

Dr. Jack Fletcher, head of the BMA resident doctors’ committee, clarified that one- or two-year settlements were part of the negotiation talks. However, he pointed out that the government abruptly pushed for a “three-year deal” with “diminished funding” just before finalizing the agreement. The current six-day strike in England is set to conclude at 06:59 on Monday. Despite the walkout, Fletcher asserted the BMA remains “open to dialogue” with Streeting, highlighting their commitment to resolving the dispute through “good faith negotiations.”

“We’ve reached a deal that provides an additional 4.9% this year and 7.1% for the lowest-paid doctors,” Streeting said during an interview with the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme. “It’s a fair offer, and the BMA must stop claiming the government made last-minute changes.”

Streeting argued that the proposed pay increase, offering a 28.9% raise within the first months of the Labour government, was sufficient. He noted that the deal included an average 4.9% boost for the year and higher increments for certain groups. Despite a 33% cumulative pay rise over four years, the BMA contends that doctors still earn 20% less than in 2008 when adjusted for inflation.

Addressing the union’s accusation of a last-minute deal change, Streeting told Victoria Derbyshire that such a move would not align with his or the government’s interests. He suggested the BMA either overlooked the deal’s specifics or chose to “attribute the issue to the government for simplicity.” Streeting added, “I’m not hiding from the BMA, nor have I solved all their concerns in under two years. They need to acknowledge there’s mutual compromise required.”

Hours after the interview, Streeting shared a letter on X, expressing “disappointment” over the recent strikes. He stated that “most of the agreement remains intact,” but the BMA’s walkouts forced the government to delay expanding 1,000 of 4,500 additional training spots for the year. The health secretary reiterated his stance, asserting the deal was fair and that the BMA must accept the terms without further objections.