Streeting denies changing pay deal for resident doctors
Streeting Denies Altering Pay Agreement for Resident Doctors
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has stated to the BBC that the government “definitely” did not modify its agreement with resident doctors to resolve recent labor disputes. He reiterated his willingness to engage with the British Medical Association (BMA) committee, though he claimed the group “refused outright” to accept the terms.
Union Chair Counters with Timeline Discrepancy
Dr. Jack Fletcher, the lead representative of the BMA’s resident doctors’ committee, responded by highlighting a key point of contention. He explained that discussions had initially focused on one- or two-year settlements, but the government “pushed for a three-year agreement at the final stage,” which included “less financial support” than previously outlined.
“Most of the deal remains on the table,” Streeting wrote in a recent X post, “but the financial and operational impact of the latest strikes has made it impossible to allocate 1,000 of the 4,500 additional training spots this year.”
Pay Rise and Negotiation Stance
Streeting emphasized that resident doctors have already received a “significant pay increase” within the first weeks of the Labour government’s tenure. He cited a proposed deal offering “an additional 4.9% this year” and “up to 7.1% for the lowest-paid physicians.” However, the BMA maintains that real wages have stagnated, arguing doctors are still earning “a fifth less than in 2008 when adjusted for inflation.”
Despite a 33% cumulative raise over four years, the BMA insists that the current pay structure does not fully address historical wage disparities. Fletcher stressed that the union has “kept the door open for dialogue” and “sought a resolution in good faith throughout the dispute.”
Accusations of Last-Minute Changes
When pressed about the claim that the deal was altered at the eleventh hour, Streeting told Victoria Derbyshire that such changes would not serve his or the government’s interests. He suggested the BMA might have “misread the details” of the agreement or “preferred to attribute the issue to the government for convenience.”
“We’ve done everything possible,” Streeting said. “I’m not claiming to have resolved all their concerns in under two years. The BMA must stop acting as if I’ve done all the work—there needs to be mutual flexibility.”
The interview occurred shortly after Streeting released a letter to the union, expressing “frustration” over the ongoing walkout. While acknowledging the “core elements of the deal” still stood, he noted the strikes had forced a reduction in the number of training positions available this year.
