Streeting denies changing pay deal for resident doctors

Streeting Rejects Allegations of Last-Minute Pay Deal Alteration

Health Secretary Wes Streeting asserted to the BBC that the government had not altered its agreement with resident doctors, emphasizing the deal was “categorically” unchanged. He proposed a meeting with representatives from the British Medical Association (BMA) resident doctors’ committee but claimed they “point blank refused” the opportunity for additional talks.

“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 during an appearance on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme.

The ongoing six-day strike in England is expected to conclude at 06:59 on Monday. In response to Streeting’s remarks, Dr. Jack Fletcher, head of the BMA committee, clarified that one- or two-year settlement terms were part of the discussions. He noted that the government abruptly demanded “a three-year deal was the only option, with reduced investment” at the final stage.

Fletcher maintained the BMA remained “open and willing to meet with the health secretary,” stressing the union’s commitment to “negotiate in good faith with a genuine desire to reach a resolution.” Streeting, meanwhile, highlighted that resident doctors had received a “28.9% pay rise” early in the Labour government’s term. He also mentioned a proposed “4.9% more for this year” and “7.1% for some of the lowest-paid doctors,” despite the BMA’s claim that wages are still 33% above previous levels but 20% lower than 2008 when adjusted for inflation.

Addressing accusations of last-minute changes, Streeting told Victoria Derbyshire, who substituted for Kuenssberg, that such alterations would not serve “my interest or the government’s.” He suggested either the BMA “didn’t read the detail” of the deal or “faced with that enormous committee” chose to “more convenient to blame the government.” The health secretary added, “We’ve gone as far as we can, I’m never going to shut the door to the BMA, 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.”

The interview followed the release of a letter Streeting shared on X, expressing “disappointment and frustration” over the latest strike. He noted that “most of the deal remains on the table,” but the “financial and operational impact of [the BMA’s] latest strikes has made it impossible for us to bring forward 1,000 of the 4,500 extra training places to this year.”