Resident doctors in England have voted to go ahead with a five-day strike despite a new offer from the government.
The British Medical Association (BMA) said its members agreed to vote on the strike last week after the government came forward with a fresh deal that included increasing specialty training posts and covering out-of-pocket expenses such as exam fees.
According to the association, 83 per cent of its members voted to continue with the walkout in an online poll over the weekend, with a turnout of 65 per cent.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “gutted” by the result, describing it as “irresponsible” given rising pressure from flu.
The strike by resident doctors — the new name for junior doctors — is due to start at 07:00 on Wednesday.
Sir Keir, who was appearing before MPs on the Liaison Committee, said: “It’s irresponsible at any time, particularly at the moment.
“It comes on the back of a very substantial pay increase in the last year or so.
“There’s a deal that we’ve put on the table that could have been taken forward, and so I think it’s irresponsible action by the BMA, and not for the first time.”
The offer did not include any promises on pay. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has maintained he will not negotiate on that after resident doctors’ pay was increased by nearly 30 per cent over the past three years.
The BMA argues that, despite the pay rises, resident doctors’ pay is still a fifth lower than it was in 2008 once inflation is taken into account.
Streeting said the pay demands were “fantasy”.
He added: “The BMA has chosen Christmas strikes to inflict damage on the NHS at the moment of maximum danger. These strikes are self-indulgent, irresponsible, and dangerous.”
The prime minister said he hoped resident doctors would still go to work, warning there was a different magnitude of risk in striking at this moment.
According to available data, the number of patients in hospital with flu rose by more than 50 per cent in a week, topping 2,600 in the first week of December, with officials warning there is still no sign of it peaking.
Flu came early this winter, and it looks to be a particularly severe season.
The circulating strain is H3N2, which tends to cause more serious illness, and it has mutated somewhat, raising fears that people may have less immunity.
This will be the 14th strike in the long-running dispute, which began in March 2023.
Resident doctors, who represent nearly half the medical workforce, will walk out of both emergency and non-urgent care. Senior doctors will be drafted in to provide cover.
