Key Summary
- British Medical Association leaders held talks with the health secretary, which both sides described as constructive
- The government has made clear it cannot move on pay, but is open to working on other areas
- It may offer to write off some of the doctors' student loan debts
Health secretary Wes Streeting held talks with resident doctors who plan to walk out for five consecutive days from 25 July until 30 July in a dispute about pay.
Leaders of the British Medical Association met Streeting in Whitehall on Thursday (17) for talks, which both sides described as constructive.
The talks will continue over the next few days in an attempt to avert planned strike action by 50,000 doctors.
The secretary made it clear that the government cannot move on pay, after a 28.9 percent rise, but is open to working on other areas to improve the working lives of resident doctors.
BMA union representatives said there was a "window of opportunity" for further talks.
There are media reports that Streeting may offer to write off some of doctors' student loan debts, to avert the strikes.
Dr Ross Nieuwoudt, co-chair of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, who held talks with Streeting, said that “nothing is completely off the table”.
Resident doctors were awarded an average 5.4 percent pay rise for this financial year, which was preceded by a 22 percent increase over the previous two years.
The BMA argues that, considering the inflation, the resident doctors' pay is still around 20 percent lower than it was in 2008.
Streeting pointed out that resident doctors have received the largest pay rises of any public sector employees over the last three years.
He said the strike plan was unreasonable and patients would suffer.
