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Minister Asserts Government Will Not Yield to Striking Doctors
Amidst an upcoming five-day walkout by resident doctors in the ongoing battle over pay, Health Secretary Wes Streeting made it clear that the government will not give in to their demands. Streeting emphasized that while there was a potential deal on the table to increase speciality training places and offer support for additional expenses, such as exam fees, the government cannot afford to spend millions to cover the costs of strikes.
In an interview, Streeting highlighted that the strike action has garnered little to no public support and will only bring about further harm and delays for patients. The Health Secretary reiterated that while the proposed deal does not touch on pay hikes, it remains available for consideration. However, he firmly stated that the government will not be held hostage by the striking doctors, especially at the expense of other NHS staff or patient care services.
The strike, which marks the 13th protest regarding pay concerns since March 2023, is forecasted to cause widespread disruption, notably in hospitals. Talks between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the government disintegrated earlier this month after ongoing discussions since the last walkout in July. Streeting remains resolute in his stance against negotiating on pay, emphasizing the significant pay rises of nearly 30% received by resident doctors in recent years.
Furthermore, the BMA stresses the urgency of addressing the job scarcity issues faced by resident doctors as they transition into their speciality training following the second year of training. With over 30,000 applicants vying for just 10,000 positions this year, the competition remains steep. Streeting views the current government offer, centered on providing more training slots and assisting with out-of-pocket expenses, as a mutually beneficial scenario for advancing progress within the NHS
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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