Health Secretary Declares Firm Stance on Doctors’ Strike
The UK government has said that it would not “be held to ransom” by resident physicians who are on strike as NHS turmoil grows. As medical workers are ready to go on strike for five days from November 14 to 19, Health Secretary Wes Streeting gave the warning.
Streeting told the BBC that instead of supporting other things, money should go toward training programs and lowering test fees. He warned that accepting the demands of the workers will cost £250 million from important health funding.
Dispute Over Pay and Working Conditions Deepens
The strike is the 13th walkout since March 2023, and it is part of a long-running fight over wages between physicians and the administration. Streeting noted that the present offer is not about getting more money but about making working conditions better.
He said that the NHS should focus on long-term funding instead of expensive short-term compromises. The British Medical Association says that doctors’ real income is still 20% lower than it was in 2008.
Streeting Condemns Strike Impact on NHS Patients
Streeting noted that the planned strike had “little to no public support” and warned that it will make waiting times worse for millions of patients. He said the union hurt services by going on strike over and over again instead of trying to find a middle ground.
The BMA said that the government might avoid taking more action by making reasonable recommendations instead of “playing politics” with health care workers.
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Doctors Demand Solutions to Jobs and Pay Shortage
Resident physicians say the disagreement is not only about pay but also about how hard it is to move on in their careers after training. This year, 30,000 people applied for only 10,000 specialist training places, leaving many without jobs.
The BMA argued that the system doesn’t function for new physicians who want to work in the UK but can’t find jobs. It told the administration to fix the lack of workers instead of blaming strikes.
Government Offers Training Expansion and Exam Support
Streeting stated that his plan will provide more spots for specialist training and lower the costs that doctors have to pay out of their own pockets. He called it a “win-win scenario” since it helps the NHS expand and its workers flourish at the same time.
The BMA, on the other hand, turned down the idea, saying it didn’t have enough details and didn’t address wage issues right enough. The union says that its little proposal for “£1 per hour more” over the course of several years is still fair.
NHS Waiting Lists Continue to Rise Across England
Streeting said that past strikes were partially to blame for the NHS’s growing waiting lists, which reached 6.26 million in August. The backlog went up a little bit from July, which put further pressure on hospitals before the November strike.
He said that repeated disruptions had hurt attempts to recover, but he was hopeful that wait times will get better “in the coming months.”
Public Confidence in Health Service Faces New Test
Patients all throughout the country are having to wait longer for appointments and operations because both sides are sticking to their guns. Analysts say that if industrial action goes on for too long, it might make people lose even more faith in the government’s ability to handle the NHS situation.
Streeting said again that he wouldn’t give in, stressing fairness to other NHS personnel who are working with changes. The conclusion might shape how Britain tries to balance healthcare needs with economic discipline.
