Streeting denies changing pay deal for resident doctors

Health Secretary Wes Streeting Denies Altering Pay Agreement for Resident Doctors

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has asserted that the government did not modify its agreement with resident doctors to resolve ongoing disputes regarding salaries and working conditions. He emphasized that the proposed terms were still available for discussion, though he noted the British Medical Association (BMA) resident doctors’ committee had “point blank refused” further talks. A letter published on X by Streeting shortly before the interview outlined his frustrations over the recent strike action.

Union’s Counterargument

Dr. Jack Fletcher, head of the BMA resident doctors’ committee, clarified that one- or two-year settlement agreements were previously discussed. However, he claimed the government suddenly insisted on a “three-year deal” with “reduced investment” at the last minute. Despite a 33% cumulative pay increase over four years, the BMA argues doctors are still earning 20% less than in 2008 when adjusted for inflation.

“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 in the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme.

The current six-day strike in England is set to conclude at 06:59 on Monday. Fletcher reiterated that the BMA remains “open and willing to meet with the health secretary,” adding that the union has “negotiated in good faith” throughout the dispute. Streeting, meanwhile, accused the BMA of either “not reading the detail” of the agreement or conveniently attributing the conflict to the government.

“We’ve gone as far as we can, I’m never going to shut the door to the BMA,” he said. “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.”