Health Secretary Rejects Claims of Pay Deal Changes
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has stated to the BBC that the government "categorically" did not alter its agreement with resident doctors aimed at ending the ongoing industrial action concerning pay and job conditions.
He further expressed a desire to engage in further negotiations with the British Medical Association (BMA) resident doctors' committee, referring to them as the "organ grinders," but asserted that they had "point blank refused" to meet.
BMA Responds to Government's Position
Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA resident doctors' committee, responded by noting that during negotiations, one- or two-year settlements were considered. However, he stated that "at the very last minute" the government insisted that "a three-year deal was the only option, with reduced investment."
The current six-day strike in England is scheduled to conclude at 06:59 on Monday.
In a statement to the BBC, Fletcher emphasized that the BMA resident doctors' committee remains "open and willing to meet with the health secretary." He added that throughout the dispute, the BMA has "negotiated in good faith with a genuine desire to reach a resolution."
Details of Pay Increases and Dispute Context
Streeting told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that resident doctors "had a 28.9% pay rise within the first weeks of this Labour government."
He also mentioned that "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."
Despite pay rises totaling 33% over the past four years, the BMA contends that doctors' earnings are still about a fifth lower than in 2008 when adjusted for inflation.
Streeting Addresses Accusations of Last-Minute Deal Changes
Responding to the union's claim that the deal was changed at the last minute, Streeting told Victoria Derbyshire, who was substituting for Kuenssberg, that such a change would not serve his or the government's interests.
He suggested that either the BMA "didn't read the detail" of the deal or, when faced with the "enormous committee," it was "more convenient to blame the government."
Streeting further stated, "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.
"The BMA need to stop pretending that I can, there has to be some give and take."
Letter to BMA Expresses Frustration Over Strike Impact
The interview occurred hours after Streeting published a letter on X addressed to the doctors' union, in which he conveyed "disappointment and frustration" regarding the latest strike action.
In the letter, he stated that "most of the deal remains on the table," but added that the "financial and operational impact of [the BMA's] latest strikes has made it impossible for us to bring forward 1,000 of the 4,500 extra training places to this year."
