Key Summary
- The doctor's union says it is ready for further talks with the government, but has not heard from them
- Health workers of the GMB and Unite unions have turned down the government's pay hike offer
- The nurses are also expected to turn down the government's pay deal later this week
Resident doctors of NHS England are not ruling out further strike action as some of their demands have not been fulfilled.
Hospital leaders have urged the British Medical Association (BMA) and the government to end the strikes, which caused widespread disruptions.
The BMA's resident doctors committee says it is ready for further talks with the government, but has not heard from health secretary Wes Streeting.
BMA co-chairs Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt said they are open to talks and their doors will always be open.
NHS Confederation acute and community care director Rory Deighton lauded the NHS leaders and their teams for keeping patients safe during the strike action period.
“This does not take away from the frustration and inconvenience of patients who have had their vital care delayed and are now facing even longer waits in pain and discomfort," he said.
He urged the BMA to recognise that the government is not in a position to provide additional pay rises and that further strikes will cause more disruption.
"We hope the BMA will think about the impact strikes have had on patients and fellow staff before calling more walk-outs,” he added.
The resident doctors are this year getting an average pay rise of 5.4 percent, following a 22 percent increase over the previous two years.
But the BMA argues that resident doctors have seen their pay fall by a much greater amount in real terms than the rest of the population.
They are demanding a 29 percent pay rise that they say would restore salaries that have been eroded over the past decade.
Streeting has said the union can't "hold the country to ransom" following three pay increases over the past three years, the highest in the public sector.
Meanwhile, the NHS England is expected to face more shocks, as health workers represented by the GMB and Unite unions have also turned down a government offer, raising the likelihood of industrial action.
The nurses are also expected to turn down the pay deal later this week.
The Royal College of Nursing is balloting its members on the 3.6 percent pay award offered for 2025/26.
