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Strike Showdown: Doctors and Streeting Set for Talks Reboot


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The British Medical Association (BMA) and Health Secretary Wes Streeting will resume talks after the end of a five-day strike by resident doctors in England. The industrial action, which concluded on Wednesday, followed failed negotiations last week. Streeting has invited the union back for discussions focusing on working conditions, despite refusing to negotiate on pay.

 

The BMA has accepted Streeting’s offer to restart talks early next week. Streeting criticised the union for losing the government's goodwill due to the recent strike. In a letter, he highlighted the "irony" of the BMA’s request for talks, asserting he had remained open to negotiation.

 

The strike was the 12th since spring 2023 and marked the first under Labour. After the election, a pay deal paused industrial action, leading to a 22% pay increase over two years and a further 5.4% rise this year. The BMA argues that pay remains insufficient, claiming it's still 20% lower than in 2008.

 

Streeting labelled the strike "deeply disappointing" and counterproductive, suggesting it had negatively impacted patients. He stressed that the strike action eroded goodwill but reiterated his willingness to engage with the BMA. Streeting intends to focus on issues like career progression and working conditions, including exam fees and rotas, reported the BBC.

 

BMA resident doctor co-chairs, Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt, expressed eagerness to return to discussions. They hope for a more "tangible and acceptable" offer from the health secretary this time.

 

The impact of the strike on health services remains uncertain, with the NHS striving to maintain non-urgent care like knee and hip operations.

 

Despite challenges, some hospitals managed to perform over 80% of routine activities, compared to lows of 50% during previous strikes. Resident doctors, who constitute nearly half of the medical workforce, range from recent graduates to those with a decade of experience.

 

The resolution of these talks will be crucial in determining the working environment and well-being of medical professionals across England. The upcoming discussions between the BMA and Streeting hold important implications for the future of healthcare negotiations.

 

image.png  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-07-31

 

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