BMA rebuffs Streeting as resident doctor strikes widen risk

Potential disruption to NHS services is set to deepen after the British Medical Association (BMA) rejected what Wes Streeting believed was a near-agreement to suspend a five-day strike in England, intensifying a standoff that could snowball into the coming months.

Sources said the health secretary thought he had a verbal deal with the co-chairs of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, Ross Nieuwoudt and Melissa Ryan, following face-to-face talks last Tuesday that they considered sufficient to pause the action that began on Friday.

The prospective deal centred on five non-pay improvements for resident doctors — overnight access to hot meals, partial payment of exam fees, funding for equipment such as stethoscopes, provision of mess rooms, and changes to the organisation of postgraduate training — but the full committee refused to approve it because it did not address the BMA’s demand for a 29% pay rise over the next few years.

The union denied scuppering an agreement and blamed Streeting, saying talks ended because his ultimatum required calling off strikes in exchange for nothing more than further discussions; it argued resident doctors do not want to strike and urged him to return with a serious proposal rather than “a handful of platitudes”.

Streeting has declined to reopen negotiations beyond the 5.4% salary increase awarded this year, highlighting the gulf with the BMA, while NHS England leaders warned of a “snowball effect” for patients and staff, with Sir Jim Mackey and his deputy David Probert cautioning the dispute could last until Christmas or beyond.

Figures in the record include a five-day strike beginning on Friday; a requested 29% pay rise; current basic pay between £38,831 and £73,992 with up to 15% extra for weekend work; a legal strike mandate for six months until 6 January covering 55,000 resident doctor members.

Further political pressure mounted as Kemi Badenoch pledged to outlaw strikes by doctors if she becomes prime minister, arguing that doctors hold lives in their hands; Streeting thanked NHS staff for minimising disruption and praised resident doctors who worked during the action, calling the strikes “completely unnecessary”.

Sourcing and chronology: accounts from Whitehall sources on last Tuesday’s talks and Friday’s start to action; statements from the BMA and Wes Streeting; warnings carried in the Sunday Times by Sir Jim Mackey and David Probert; and an X post by Kemi Badenoch on Sunday.

29 July 2025 13:08 By London Health News Desk