Resident doctors in England call off strike action after new government offer | Doctors

Junior doctors in England have called off strike action after the government made a new offer to members.

They were to stage a four-day work stoppage starting at 7 a.m. on Monday morning; this was the 16th strike action since 2023.

However, the British Medical Association (BMA) said on Saturday that a last-minute offer had been made to members.

Chairman of the BMA’s junior doctors committee, Dr. Jack Fletcher said: “We have always been clear that we do not need to go on any strikes if we get a suitable offer to put forward to our members.

“This should not have been left to the last moment, but once the government changes its stance we will fulfill our end of the bargain.

“All we want is a fair offer to secure enough jobs to tackle the mania for doctor unemployment and take steps to address the erosion of our wages. Now tens of thousands of front-line doctors will vote in a referendum on whether this offer is enough.

“We will always negotiate in good faith and strikes are only a last resort in the face of complete government intransigence. When the government acts, we act.”

“Doctors will now have a say. If they say no to this offer, we will have to continue our more intense action plans next month.”

The proposal is understood to include standard 2016 resident doctor contract terms for all locally employed doctors and an average salary increase of 6.6% to be fully implemented by April 2027.

Prof Frankie Swords, NHS England’s national medical director, said the service was facing “triple pressure” as the planned attack coincided with hot weather and the World Cup.

Health Secretary James Murray said: “It is a positive and welcome development – ​​especially for patients – that the BMA has called off these unnecessary strikes.”

He added that “the country cannot afford to increase the salary offer for this year” after a 28.9% pay rise for junior doctors in the last three years.