Ahead of the five-day walkout by the British Medical Association (BMA), which starts at 7am on Friday, the Health Secretary said the Government had offered to support the cost of exams undertaken by doctors as part of their career progression towards becoming consultants.
The association is demanding a 29 per cent pay rise it says resident – formerly junior – doctors need to achieve its aim of pay restoration to 2008 levels. They received a 22 per cent pay rise last year and will get another 5.4 per cent on average rise from next month.
“I’ve heard the nonsense claim that nothing credible was discussed, when in reality a series of non-pay options were discussed which would not only have addressed the conditions that resident doctors are working in but would have actually resulted in money in resident doctors’ pockets on a whole range of things.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting (Photo: Leon Neal/Getty)“To help resident doctors properly progress and become the consultants of the future the NHS needs, I was hoping the BMA would be open to discuss how we could better recognise and support additional costs like these,” said the Health Secretary.
In a personal letter to NHS resident doctors, the Health Secretary also accused the BMA of not acting “in good faith” after he asked for industrial action to be postponed for “a few weeks” so both sides could work together on a “detailed package” that could form an offer to medics and end the dispute.
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In the letter sent on Thursday afternoon, Streeting continued: “I deeply regret the position we now find ourselves in. The public, and I am sure many of you, do not understand the rush to strike action. I would like to thank all those that will be turning up to work and supporting their colleagues in providing care for patients despite the challenging circumstances. I urge you to join them. We can achieve more for both doctors and patients by working together.”
NHS staff will be ‘flat out’ during strikes
Proposals included reducing the costs resident doctors face as a result of training as well as the cost of equipment, food and drink. He was also “prepared to explore how many further training posts could be created – additional to the 1,000 already announced – as early as possible”.
He added: “But I am determined to keep disruption to patients at a minimum and continue with the recovery we have begun delivering in the last 12 months after a decade-and-a-half of neglect. We will not be knocked off course.”
“NHS trusts will do everything they can to postpone as few appointments as possible… The strike will throttle hard-won progress to cut waiting lists, but NHS trust leaders and staff will be working flat out to see that as many patients as possible get the care they need.”
NHS England chief executive Jim Mackey has told trust leaders to try to crack down on resident doctors’ ability to work locum shifts during the strike to cover any lost earnings. Leaders have also been encouraged to seek “derogations”, where resident doctors are required to work during the strikes, in more circumstances, the HSJ reported. However, tens of thousands of appointments are still expected to be postponed.
It said the adverts “make clear that while a newly-qualified doctor’s assistant is taking home over £24 per hour, a newly-qualified doctor with years of medical school experience is on just £18.62 per hour”.
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Read MoreRDC co-chairs Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt said in a statement: “Pay erosion has now got to the point where a doctor’s assistant can be paid up to 30 per cent more than a resident doctor. That’s going to strike most of the public that use the NHS as deeply unfair.
The statement said Streeting had every opportunity to prevent the strike, and added: “We want these strikes to be the last we ever have to participate in.
A BMA spokesperson added: “We cannot be clearer: it was the Government that ended the talks. Resident doctors do not want to strike. However, we have been compelled to take action because Mr Streeting’s ultimatum, which demanded we call off strikes in exchange for nothing more than further talks was simply unacceptable.
“We want to continue our negotiations with Mr Streeting and strongly urge him to get back around the table with a serious proposal, rather than a handful of platitudes.”
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