Key Summary
- BMA union leader Dr Jack Fletcher wants 2026 to see "less name-calling and more deal-making"
- Health secretary Wes Streeting also said he is not going to "shut the door to talks"
- Streeting has been unwilling to reopen pay negotiations and doctors want “pay restoration” to the level of 2008 in real terms
After the conclusion of the five-day strike action by the resident doctors on Monday (22), the BMA said it is keen to find a lasting solution, and urged the health secretary, Wes Streeting, to enter new talks with a ‘constructive spirit.’
The union said it hopes the health secretary revisits the constructive conversations that took place at the eleventh hour prior to the latest strike.
"Whilst those talks were offered far too late to be able to avoid strike action, resident doctor leaders in England are keen to find a lasting solution that could take strike action off the table for years to come," the BMA said.
BMA resident doctors committee chair Dr Jack Fletcher said that "2026 must see less name-calling and more deal-making."
"What we need is a proper fix to this jobs crisis and a credible path towards restoring the lost value of the profession. That must mean the creation of genuinely new jobs, and it could involve a responsible multi-year approach to restoring doctors’ pay," he added.
He, however, said the "tone of the conversations we had at the eleventh hour before these strikes were cause for optimism that the Government is finally understanding the frustrations of resident doctors in England. We are going into the New Year with a renewed can-do spirit, and we hope Mr Streeting will do the same."
Talks between the government and the BMA have repeatedly broken down in recent months.
Streeting has been unwilling to reopen pay negotiations and doctors want “pay restoration” to the level of 2008 in real terms.
The health secretary recently offered a deal to create more training places to end the crisis of qualified doctors being unable to find jobs after graduating.
However, this offer was refused by BMA resident doctors, who voted to go ahead with the strike.
Hospitals return to normal
Meanwhile, hospitals in England are working to get patients home for Christmas and recover from the disruption caused by the strike.
Thousands of elective and outpatient appointments were cancelled as senior doctors were redeployed to cover emergency and urgent care, BBC reports.
The doctors went ahead with the strike amid surging flu cases, and both Streeting and prime minister Keir Starmer had criticised the move.
Streeting, however, has expressed keenness to see an end to the dispute by the new year.
He said he is not going to "shut the door to talks", and work towards starting "2026 off on a better foot."
