Furious Streeting slams ‘delusional’ docs as NHS braces for walkouts | Politics | News

Wes Streeting has accused junior doctors of working under “delusion” after the British Medical Association rejected the Government’s offer of pay and jobs, triggering the longest strike in the three-year dispute. Thousands of junior doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, will stop work for six days, from 7am on Tuesday 7 April until 6.59am on Monday 13 April, just after the Easter bank holiday. This marks the 16th round of industrial action since the first strike in March 2023, with NHS leaders warning of a possible intensification continuing throughout next year.

Last-ditch talks on Tuesday and Wednesday failed, and Thursday’s deadline passed without a deal. Mr Streeting hit back with a scathing letter to Dr Jack Fletcher, chairman of the BMA Junior Doctors Committee, withdrawing a promise to create 1,000 extra specialist training places this year.

Health Secretary Mr Streeting wrote: “The BMA appears to be operating under the illusion that you can reject the deal but still enjoy the benefits of the offer.” He said he expected a counter-offer after the BMA rejected the package, but no offer was received. Mr Streeting added: “If the members of your committee cannot agree among themselves, it is difficult to see how the government can reach an agreement with your committee.”

The government’s final offer included an average wage increase of 4.9% this year; these increases were cumulative over four years to 35.2%, the highest in the public sector, with higher increases for the lowest-paid FY1 and FY2 doctors. It also promised to reform the pay structure for more frequent rises linked to qualifications, refund Royal College exam fees and up to 4,500 additional specialist training positions over three years, including 1,000 positions scrapped this year.

Mr Streeting stressed that the extra duties were contingent on the strikes ending, pointing to the estimated £250 million cost of each strike and the tight deadlines for training recruitment in August. Mr Streeting said: “It is not operationally or financially feasible” to deliver them during ongoing actions.

Jim Mackey, chief executive of NHS England, warned strikes would continue and predicted services would increasingly redesign care to reduce reliance on junior doctors. Mike Prentice, national director of emergency planning, said the Easter timing would put “significant pressure on staff resources” as many staff were on holiday.

Senior figures are now questioning whether the dispute is solvable. The BMA has demanded a 26% pay rise, which ministers say is unaffordable given public finances. Mr Streeting cast doubt on future negotiations, highlighting the committee’s internal divisions and the BMA’s decision to continue subversive action during the recess period despite months of detailed talks.

In his letter, Mr Streeting highlighted elements of the rejected deal, including significant contract reforms and new industrial relations structures for locally employed doctors. He reminded Fletcher that the government had already delivered a 28.9% pay rise since taking office and had passed legislation – without using this as leverage – to prioritize UK medical graduates for training places.

Mr Streeting said that even at 11am it was “not too late” to accept the offer or call off the strikes, but the focus had now shifted to managing the disruption and prioritizing other NHS workforce talks.

NHS bosses are facing canceled appointments, longer waits and pressure on remaining staff. The strike is expected to cost around £250-300 million, adding to existing tensions.

The fight, which has been going on since 2023, shows no immediate signs of a resolution as both sides remain distant from each other over salary and training bottlenecks.