Doctors rebuffed ‘money in pockets’ offer, says Streeting as 5-day strike begins ...Middle East

The Government offered resident doctors “money in their pockets” to avert strikes but this was rebuffed, Wes Streeting has told The i Paper.

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 BMA rejected all offers on the table from ministers, insisting that only an increase in annual pay would have averted strike action.

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.

Streeting told The i Paper: “We’ve had constructive conversations in very recent days with the BMA, who led us to believe there was a chance that these needless strikes could be averted.

“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.

He said doctors have told him “time and time again” about how costly exams are, which can be mandatory depending on their specialism. Some doctors have to pay as much as £2,000 for multiple rounds of examinations, Streeting added.

“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.

“My officials stood ready to work at pace with the BMA on measures like these, following the assurance that a strike would not go ahead, but instead the BMA rushed to strikes.”

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.

He had written to the union’s resident doctors’ committee (RDC) on Monday evening setting out a way to avert strike action, which the sides had discussed. “I had responded to their requests for where additional information was required,” Streeting said. “I no longer believe that they have engaged with me in good faith.”

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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.”

Streeting said he had “a great deal of sympathy for the arguments that resident doctors were making about pay, working conditions and career progression”. While he cannot pledge a bigger pay rise, Streeting said he is committed to progress to improve their working lives “that would put money back in the pockets of resident doctors”.

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”.

Streeting said there is “no getting around the fact that these strikes will hit the progress we are making in turning the NHS around”.

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.”

Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, said staff will be working “flat out” to see as many patients as they can during the strike, after NHS England made clear it wants as much pre-planned care as possible to continue. “Striking doctors should think carefully if they are really doing the right thing for patients, for the NHS and for themselves,” he said.

“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.”

The public have been urged to keep coming forward for NHS care during the walkout. GP surgeries will open as usual and urgent care and A&E will continue to be available, alongside 111, NHS England said.

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.

The BMA is taking out national newspaper adverts on Friday, saying it wants to “lay bare the significant pay difference between a resident doctor and their non-medically qualified assistants”.

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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The BMA said Streeting and his officials have refused to continue talks across the strike days and the minister’s letter to them “amounted to nothing more than vague promises on non-pay issues”.

RDC 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.

“Resident doctors are not worth less than they were 17 years ago, but unfortunately they’ve seen their pay erode by more than 21 per cent in the last two decades. We’re not working 21 per cent less hard so why should our pay suffer? We’re asking for an extra £4 per hour to restore our pay. It’s a small price to pay for those who may hold your life in their hands.”

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.

“We are asking Mr Streeting to get back around the table with a serious proposal as soon as possible – this time with the intent to bring this to a just conclusion.”

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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