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Regrettable that BMA let slip medics are excited for new strikes

Regrettable that BMA let slip medics are excited for new strikes

Independent25-06-2025
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said it is 'regrettable' the British Medical Association (BMA) 'let slip' that resident doctors are feeling excited by the prospect of more strikes.
He told the PA news agency that union members 'could be round the table working together' rather than on picket lines.
Doctors in training, formerly known as junior doctors, are currently being balloted on whether or not to stage further walkouts, with the vote closing on July 7.
Speaking at the BMA's annual representative meeting in Liverpool on Tuesday, Dr Ross Nieuwoudt, co-chair of the union's resident doctors committee, suggested that 'people are excited to go again'.
He then corrected this to 'energised' when pressed.
He said: 'Excited as in energised. Not excited as in looking forward to it.'
Mr Streeting told PA: 'I don't think the resident doctors on the front line are excited by the prospect of strike action.
'I don't think that people want to be out on picket lines.
'And I think it's regrettable that the BMA to be honest let slip that they're feeling excited.'
Previous strikes by resident doctors have taken place 11 times since 2022, leading to almost 1.5 million appointments being cancelled or rescheduled.
Members of the BMA voted to accept a Government pay deal worth 22.3% on average over two years last September.
The Government also committed to working with the union to streamline how resident doctors report any additional hours they work.
Dr Nieuwoudt said on Tuesday that doctors in training 'want to push for change', but 'their cries have fallen on deaf ears'.
He said that while Mr Streeting gave medics 'a good deal that could stop the strike action at the time', which included promises about a 'genuine pathway' towards restoring pay, this has not happened.
Mr Streeting told PA: 'I just remind the BMA that they've got in me, someone who not only wants to work with them, has already worked with them to deliver a 28.9% pay rise for resident doctors for the last three years, and shares their anger about the experiences of frontline resident doctors in terms of how their treated at work.
'Their placements, their rotations, their ability to take time off, the lack of hot food facilities overnight.
'So rather than be out on the picket line, we could be round the table working together to sort this out and to and to improve the NHS. And that's what I want us to do together.'
The co-chairs of the BMA's resident doctors committee, Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Nieuwoudt, said in a statement: 'The Health Secretary has been refusing to meet with us since he announced this year's disappointing pay award, so it's good to hear that he would now like to get round the table.
'We'll be expecting to start negotiations on July 8th, when our ballot will have closed and there will be no excuse not to meet.'
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'So if you were on mid-strength Mounjaro you would have to go onto the lowest strength Wegovy. 'There may also need to be a 'wash out' period to wean off one on to the other - which will again have impact on results." But Mr Nicol says: "It doesn't feel right to do that, it's like a game of snakes and ladders. "We'd be saying to people, for example, on 7.5mg of Mounjaro, that they shuold be transferring over to 1.7mg of Wegovy." Patients should receive clinically appropriate care, under supervision, that aligns with their individual health needs and personal circumstances, experts said. WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF SWITCHING TO WEGOVY? A USER would also need to adjust to the side effects of a new medicine. While these are relatively the same for either jab, there are slight differences. 'Mounjaro tends to be better tolerated in terms of GI side effects than Weygovy, so you may experience more nausea or vomiting etc,' says Dr Hussain. The 'very common' side effects of both Mounjaro and Wegovy are nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting and constipation, according to Asda Online Doctor. But Wegovy also says headache, stomach pain and feeling weak or tired are very common. WILL I LOSE AS MUCH WEIGHT ON WEGOVY? THE active ingredient in Wegovy is semaglutide, while in Mounjaro it is tirzepatide. Both work in a very similar way on the body. Dr Hussain says: 'The two drugs work in a similar way (both are GLP-1 receptor agonists) but have some important differences. 'Mounjaro is a dual GIP + GLP-1 receptor agonist, while Wegovy is GLP-1 agonist only. 'Therefore, there may be a difference in impact on appetite suppression and hence subsequent weight loss.' GLP-1 is a natural hormone released in your gut when you eat. By activating GLP-1 receptors, Wegovy helps slow down stomach emptying and control blood sugar levels, helping with fullness and sending a message to the brain to reduce food intake. Mounjaro does this too, but also mimics the hormone GIP, which also plays a role in blood sugar regulation and appetite. It's dual-action may be why Mounjaro is the preferred jab of choice for weight loss. 2 Mounjaro can help you lose around 21 per cent of your body weight, while Wegovy can help you lose 14.9 per cent. In one trial of Mounjaro, the SURMOUNT-1 trial of tirzepatide in non-diabetic patients over 72 weeks, people lost up to 22.5 per cent of their body weight while taking the highest maintenance dose. More than 89 per cent of people lost at least five per cent of their starting weight. STEP-1, a 68-week clinical trial carried out to study the weight loss effects of semaglutide (Wegovy), found that people lost up to 17 per cent of their body weight after taking the 2.4mg maintenance dose. Up to 85 per cent of patients lost at least five per cent of their starting weight. Mr Nicol said: "Mounjaro is a Ferrari, Wegovy is a Porsche, and diet and exercise is a horse and cart." HOW CAN I GET THE JAB CHEAPER? SWITCHING to Wegovy might save you money - if your provider hasn't increased its prices. Below is a box showing the price of the highest dose of Wegovy and Mounjaro - but because the doses are not comparable, it's difficult to also compare their prices. Eli Lilly claimed it is negotiating with providers so that the whole increase is not passed on to patients. Mr Nicol said: 'At CheqUp we are determined to support our patients as best we can – and can announce today that despite these price rises we will not raise prices for those who are on the two lowest doses of Mounjaro. 'We will also not pass on the full cost of the price rise for those on higher doses.' HOW CAN I GET MOUNJARO FREE ON THE NHS? IT was a game-changing moment when the NHS announced it would be prescribing weight loss jabs for free. You need to fit a strict set of criteria to be eligible, but the initial rollout is extremely limited to just 22,000 patients over the next three years. There are 3.4million people in England who would qualify for treatment under the NICE eligibility criteria. The NHS says you'll only be prescribed semaglutide (Wegovy) if you have health problems due to your weight and you have a BMI of either: 35 or more, or 32.5 or more if you're of Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin 30 to 34.9, or 27.5 to 32.4 if you're of Asian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean origin, and you meet other criteria to be treated by a specialist weight management service Only a specialist weight management service can prescribe semaglutide. You may be eligible for tirzepatide (Mounjaro) from a GP if you have: A BMI of 40 or more And have at least four of these weight-related health conditions: type 2 diabetes high blood pressure (hypertension) heart disease (cardiovascular disease) abnormal blood fats (dyslipidaemia) obstructive sleep apnoea A weight management service or GP can prescribe tirzepatite. CAN I GET AROUND THE POSTCODE LOTTERY? THERE is a 'postcode lottery' of prescription, so whether you can access the drugs depends largely on where you live. Shockingly, as little as eight out of 42 NHS Integrated Health Boards are prescribing the jabs, according to Sky News. Can you get around it? 'No,' says Dr Hussain. The NHS says you can check with your local Integrated Care Board to see if you are eligible for an assessment. Some GP practices have begged patients to stop requesting it from them. For example, a statement from Dr Khan's Practice in Clayton, Manchester, read: 'Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) is not currently available anywhere in Greater Manchester, including GP practices, hospitals or specialist weight management services. 'Please do not contact us to request it – you'll be contacted directly if you are eligible when the service becomes available in the area. 'Dr Khans Practice are not prescribing GLP-1 medications for weight loss until a service agreement is in place with Manchester ICB which is currently under review.' The 7 fat jab mistakes stopping you losing weight WHILE weight loss jabs have been hailed as a breakthrough in helping tackle Britain's obesity crisis, some users say they're missing out on their waist-shrinking powers - and it could be down to some simple mistakes... POOR PENMANSHIP Many people don't correctly use the injection pen, according to Ana Carolina Goncalves, a pharmacist at Pharmica in Holborn, London. Make sure to prime your weight loss pen correctly, as per the instructions. If nothing comes out, try again, and if it still doesn't work, switch the needle or ask a pharmacist for help. It's also recommended to rotate injection sites between the abdomen, thigh and upper arm to avoid small lumps of fat under the skin. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE Make sure you're using the jabs on the most effective day of your schedule. For example, taking the jab right before a takeaway or party won't stop you from indulging, says Jason Murphy, head of pharmacy and weight loss expert at Chemist4U. Weight loss injections need time to build up in your system, so if you're planning for a heavier weekend, inject your dose mid-week. MAKING A MEAL OF IT You may not feel the urge to overeat at mealtimes due to the jabs. But skipping meals altogether can backfire, says Dr David Huang, director of clinical innovation at weight loss service Voy. If a person is extremely malnourished, their body goes into emergency conservation mode, where their metabolism slows down. FOOD FOR THOUGHT A key mistake using weight loss jabs is not eating the right foods. As well as cutting out sugary drinks and alcohol, Dr Vishal Aggarwal, Healthium Clinics recommends focusing on your protein intake. DE-HYDRATION STATIONS Dehydration is a common side effect of weight loss injections. But it's important to say hydrated in order for your body to function properly. Dr Crystal Wyllie, GP at Asda Online Doctor, says hydration supports metabolism, digestion, and can reduce side effects like headaches, nausea and constipation. MOVE IT, MOVE IT It can be easy to see the jabs as a quick fix, but stopping exercising altogether is a mistake, says Mital Thakrar, a pharmacist from Well Pharmacy. Exercise helps maintain muscle mass and help shape the body as you lose weight, which may be crucial if you're experiencing excess skin. QUIT IT While there's the tendency to ditch the jabs as soon as you reach your desired weight, stopping them too soon can cause rapid regain. Mr Thakrar recommends building habits like healthier eating during treatment for sustaining results.

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