Streeting warns doctors must feel ‘pain’ of strikes to prevent further action
Wes Streeting says striking doctors must feel ‘pain’ to prevent walkouts spreading
- Health Secretary Wes Streeting has warned that striking resident doctors must feel the "pain" of industrial action to prevent walkouts spreading to other public sectors.
- Up to 50,000 resident doctors across England began a five-day strike on Friday, demanding a 29 per cent pay increase, citing a 20 per cent real-terms pay cut since 2008.
- Streeting stated he cannot offer a larger pay rise this year, despite a 28.9 per cent pay award under Labour, and accused the British Medical Association's resident doctors committee of not negotiating in good faith.
- NHS England chief executive Sir Jim Mackey described the strikes as "very annoying and disappointing" and reportedly advised trust leaders to restrict doctors' ability to work locum shifts during the walkout.
- Sir Keir Starmer appealed to resident doctors not to follow the BMA leadership, stating the strikes would "cause real damage" to the NHS and patients, and that most people do not support them.