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The British Medical Association (BMA) has cautioned against public panic regarding the ongoing flu outbreak, as its members prepare to vote on potential strike action in England scheduled for next week. This announcement follows concerns expressed by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who described the situation as a “double whammy” due to the surge in flu patients in hospitals coinciding with planned strikes by resident doctors.
Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, emphasized that the union is not minimizing the flu’s impact but criticized Streeting for what he called “scaremongering” the public with warnings that the NHS might be unable to provide adequate care. The outcome of the BMA ballot is expected on Monday, determining whether a five-day strike will commence on Wednesday.
The government has proposed a deal aimed at improving conditions for resident doctors by guaranteeing priority for British medical graduates in speciality training placements starting next year and pledging to cover training costs such as exam fees. However, the offer does not include any salary increases. In a recent Guardian article, Sir Keir Starmer highlighted that pay for resident doctors has risen by 28.9% over the past three years. The BMA, meanwhile, urged the health secretary to concentrate on presenting a settlement that would prevent the strikes rather than claiming the strike action might cause the NHS to collapse.
In communications to NHS Trust chief executives in England, the BMA acknowledged that some resident doctors may be required to work during strikes to “maintain safe patient care.” Signed by BMA council chair Dr Tom Dolphin, the letter reaffirmed the union’s commitment to patient safety. Meanwhile, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson noted the health secretary had “listened to resident doctors’ concerns and worked constructively to put forward an improved offer on the table.”
Addressing the media earlier in the week, Streeting remarked that the NHS is currently under “probably the worst pressure … since Covid.” He also questioned why the BMA had declined his proposal to postpone the strike to January, suggesting, “I can only assume that the reason why they refuse to do that is because they know that this week will be most painful for the NHS.” The prime minister supported Streeting’s stance, condemning the planned strikes as “reckless” at a time when the NHS faces its “most precarious moment since the pandemic.”
Sir Keir Starmer added in his Guardian commentary that the BMA had recently received a revised offer and the option to delay strikes until after Christmas. Although he expressed a preference for cancelling the strikes, he acknowledged the importance of exhausting all options to protect the NHS. The BMA has committed to polling its members to determine if the government’s new offer is sufficient to halt the strikes scheduled for Wednesday. Should there be majority support to pause, members would then have the opportunity to review the proposals in detail before a formal referendum on resolving the dispute is held.
Experts indicate that this winter’s flu season has started unusually early and is appearing more severe due to a mutated variant currently in circulation. Often referred to as “super flu,” this strain is neither more serious nor harder to treat than previous types. NHS England reported an average of 2,660 flu patients in hospitals daily last week—the highest number recorded for this time of year since tracking began in 2021 and a 55% increase from the previous week. Nevertheless, the data does not account for flu seasons prior to 2021, such as those in 2014-15 and 2017-18, which were notably severe.
Rising flu cases are also being reported in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Despite these increases, Chris Streather, medical director for NHS London, stated that the current flu burden remains “well within the boundaries” the NHS can manage, noting that hospitals are better equipped for outbreaks following lessons learned from the Covid pandemic. He added that speculation around the flu situation is “probably not helpful” and tends to heighten public anxiety
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