Streeting denies changing pay deal for resident doctors

Government insists on ongoing negotiations amid strike tensions

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has asserted that the government “categorically” maintained its agreement with resident doctors to resolve ongoing disputes regarding pay and job conditions. He announced plans to engage with the British Medical Association (BMA)’s resident doctors’ committee but claimed the union “point blank refused” to accept the proposed terms.

“There’s a deal on the table that would have given them an average 4.9% more for this year, 7.1% for some of the lowest-paid doctors,” Streeting stated during an interview with the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme.

The current six-day walkout in England is set to conclude at 06:59 on Monday. Dr. Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA resident doctors’ committee, responded by noting that one or two-year settlements were discussed during negotiations. He added that the government “insisted at the very last minute” on a three-year agreement with reduced investment.

“We’ve gone as far as we can, I’m never going to shut the door to the BMA, I’m not pretending I’ve solved all of their problems in less than two years,” Streeting said. “The BMA need to stop pretending that I can, there has to be some give and take.”

Despite a 33% increase in pay over the past four years, the BMA argues that doctors remain underpaid compared to 2008 levels. When adjusted for inflation, they are still earning a fifth less than their 2008 salaries. Fletcher emphasized that the BMA has “negotiated in good faith” with a focus on achieving a resolution.

Streeting also dismissed the idea that the pay deal was altered at the last minute, stating it would not serve his or the government’s interests. He suggested the BMA either overlooked the deal’s specifics or “faced with that enormous committee” chose to attribute the conflict to the government. A letter published on X by the health secretary expressed “disappointment and frustration” over the recent walkout, highlighting the impact of strikes on adding 1,000 extra training places to the current year’s plan.