Resident doctors in England have announced their intention to resume discussions with Health Secretary Wes Streeting in hopes of avoiding further strike actions. Their recent five-day strike concluded on Monday morning, and the doctors expressed a commitment to approaching future talks with a “can-do spirit.” The British Medical Association (BMA) has urged the health secretary to engage in these discussions with a similarly constructive attitude. The BMA noted that the tone of the last-minute negotiations prior to the strike was encouraging, but ultimately too late to prevent the disruption.
Streeting also indicated his readiness to return to the negotiating table, emphasizing his desire to prevent further industrial action within the NHS in 2026. He stated, “My door remains open, as it always has done, and I’m determined to resume discussions with the BMA in the new year to put an end to these damaging cycles of disruption.” This sentiment reflects a significant shift from previous interactions, where tensions were high, particularly with comments from Prime Minister Keir Starmer describing the strike as “beyond belief” during a critical period for the flu-stricken NHS.
The health secretary faced criticism from Andrea Egan, who will assume the role of general secretary of Unison in the coming year. Egan deemed Streeting’s characterization of the strike as “morally reprehensible” unacceptable. Furthermore, Streeting accused the BMA of operating like a cartel, adding complexity to the ongoing negotiations.
Despite these challenges, both Streeting and the BMA appeared willing to adopt a more conciliatory approach as the strike concluded. Talks between the government and the BMA have faced repeated breakdowns in recent months, largely due to Streeting’s reluctance to revisit discussions on pay. Doctors have been advocating for “pay restoration” to 2008 levels in real terms, a demand that remains unmet.
In response to the ongoing crisis, Streeting proposed a deal to increase the number of training positions available for new doctors, aimed at addressing the shortage of qualified medical professionals. This offer, however, was rejected by BMA resident doctors, who opted to proceed with their strike from Wednesday until 7 a.m. on Monday.
Jack Fletcher, chair of the resident doctors committee, appealed for a shift away from personal attacks towards meaningful negotiations. He remarked, “What we need is a proper fix to this jobs crisis and a credible path towards restoring the lost value of the profession.” Fletcher emphasized that solutions such as the creation of genuinely new jobs and a responsible multi-year approach to restoring doctors’ pay are necessary and within the government’s capacity.
As discussions move forward, Fletcher highlighted the frustration felt by doctors regarding the previous year and the missed opportunities to avoid strikes. “The tone of the conversations we had at the 11th hour before these strikes were cause for optimism that the government is finally understanding the frustrations of resident doctors in England,” he noted.
Earlier in the week, Streeting acknowledged the NHS’s ability to cope with the strike, despite its coinciding with the peak flu season. He expressed concern about the recovery period following the disruption, describing the “double whammy of strike action and flu this December” as a significant threat to the NHS since the last election.
“The health service has only been able to cope because of the extraordinary efforts of the dedicated staff who work in it,” Streeting stated on Monday. He continued, “The hardest yards are in the weeks ahead as we get the NHS through the busiest weeks of the year.” His remarks included gratitude for all who contributed to maintaining NHS services during what he described as an exceptionally challenging month.
As both parties gear up for renewed discussions in the new year, the focus remains on creating a sustainable resolution that addresses the pressing issues of pay and staffing within the NHS.
