Wes Streeting has criticized the doctors’ union, describing their stance as ‘unreasonable’, as he called for direct negotiations to resolve the ongoing NHS strikes.
This weekend, resident doctors in England, who were previously referred to as junior doctors, continue their strike. They are set to resume their duties at 6:59 a.m. on Monday after a six-day protest.
Prior to the strike, the British Medical Association (BMA) turned down a government proposal, which included a 4.9 percent rise in average basic pay.
The Health Secretary has stated that this proposal would result in resident doctors seeing a 35.2 percent increase in their pay compared to four years ago.
However, the BMA, which represents resident doctors, rejected the offer, labeling it unsatisfactory and outlined specific demands concerning pay and job conditions.
This current strike represents the 15th instance of industrial action by resident doctors in England since 2023, with the cost to the NHS expected to reach £300 million.
Collectively, the cost of strikes is estimated to have topped £3billion.
Speaking to Sky News on Sunday, Mr Streeting said he was ‘furious’ with the BMA as he branded the union’s position ‘absurd’ and accused it of being ‘unreasonable’.
Wes Streeting lashed out at the ‘unreasonable’ doctors’ union as he demanded to ‘speak to the organ grinders’ in a bid to end NHS strikes.
Resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, in England remain on strike this weekend and will return to work at 6.59am on Monday following a six-day walkout
Referring to the 28.9 per cent pay deal that resident doctors previously received across three years when Labour first came to power in 2024, the Health Secretary said: ‘I called them on day one, had them in week one, and we agreed a deal.
‘They got a 28.9 per cent pay rise. They have then, for reasons I think are absurd, they’ve chosen to go out on strike again.
‘They’ve just rejected a deal that would have put another 4.9 per cent on the table, that would have given thousands of new training opportunities, that would have canceled their exam fees, and they’ve rejected it.’
In an interview with the BBC, Mr Streeting later ‘categorically’ denied changing the current deal offered to resident doctors at the last minute.
The BMA’s resident doctors’ committee chairman Dr Jack Fletcher has accused ministers of suddenly reducing the amount of money they were offering to secure the peace deal.
But Mr Streeting said: ‘Why would that be in my interest or the Government’s interest? We’ve acted in good faith throughout.
‘Resident doctors had a 28.9 per cent pay rise within the first weeks of this Labour Government.
‘There’s a deal on the table that would have given them an average 4.9 per cent more for this year, 7.1 per cent for some of the lowest-paid doctors.’
Asked whether the Government had changed the money offered, the Health Secretary said: ‘Categorically, no we did not.
‘There are only two plausible explanations for what the BMA are saying. Either they didn’t read the detail, which I don’t believe because they are details people…
‘Or faced with that enormous committee, many of whom are quite hardline in their views, it was more convenient to blame the Government than to accept responsibility for the deal that those officers committed to recommend to their committee.
‘And that’s why I’ve said in my letter to the BMA resident doctors’ committee today, I don’t just want to see the officers, although I will.
‘I want to see the whole committee, because those are the people that rejected the deal on the table, and those – the people who, for the last two years have point blank refused to meet – they are so far, the only people who’ve ever refused to meet me as Health Secretary in the last two years.
‘And given that they are the people calling the shots, I think it’s time for me to speak to the organ grinders.’
In a further interview with Times Radio, when asked whether resident doctors deserved higher pay, Mr Streeting said: ‘We work in the NHS many of whom are never paid as much as the lowest paid doctor.
‘I’ve got a responsibility to patients and while the NHS is of course our most important public service, it is not the only public service in need of investment.’
The BMA has been contacted for comment.
