Health Secretary Wes Streeting says 'jury is out' on if there'll be more NHS strikes despite junior doctors agreeing to a month-long truce in pay row
The Health Secretary welcomed the fact the British Medical Association (BMA) has agreed to use August as a 'window for negotiations' as a 'step in the right direction'.
But he warned it 'takes two to tango', adding that the 'jury is out on where we'll get to by early September'.
In their ongoing dispute over pay, resident doctors - formerly known as junior doctors - staged a five-day strike last month to bring fresh disruption to the NHS in England.
Mr Streeting has said talks with the BMA could lead to improvements in the working lives of resident doctors, but he has repeatedly said there is no more money for pay.
The Health Secretary has instead pointed to the 28.9 per cent pay rise enjoyed by resident doctors over the last three years.
Yet, the BMA has slammed this year's pay rise of 5.4 per cent as not going far enough to restore historical pay freezes.
Speaking to LBC, Mr Streeting said the Government and the BMA were now trying to 'work together and find a resolution' to the dispute.
In their ongoing dispute over pay, resident doctors - formerly known as junior doctors - staged a five-day strike last month to bring fresh disruption to the NHS in England
'I think it is extremely frustrating that we had five days of strike action,' the Health Secretary said.
'We were able to, thanks the brilliant work of frontline staff and NHS leaders, mitigate against some of that impact.
'And we had fewer procedures cancelled than in previous rounds of strike, but there's still an impact.
'So I sat down with the resident doctors last week. They've agreed to hold off strike action during the month of August so that we can see if we can work together and find resolution.
'Those discussions are ongoing and I welcome the fact that they're not going on strike this month.
'Ultimately it takes two to tango in a negotiation, but the fact that they are now willing to sit down and negotiate is a step in the right direction'.
But the BMA warned that resident doctors are ready to go on strike again if no deal is agreed with Labour ministers.
A BMA spokesperson said: 'We've agreed a window for negotiations with the Government, which we hope they will use to make a credible offer on pay so that doctors don't have to go on strike again.
'Patients and doctors both deserve a resolution to this dispute sooner rather than later, and we urge Mr Streeting to grab the opportunity in front of him to rebuild the NHS workforce.'
Early analysis by NHS England claimed less than a third of resident doctors joined strike action at the end of July.
The number of medics that took part in the walkout was down by 7.5 per cent (1,243) on the previous round of industrial action in July last year.
But the BMA rejected this, saying complex work schedules and doctors taking leave make this information 'almost impossible to know'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
11 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Cult favorite Japanese cleansing balm 'feels like silk' and purifies skin to leave you glowing - save 10% right now
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Gorgeous skin doesn't always come naturally. If you're plagued by many of the usual suspects, like blackheads, dryness, and clogged pores, you may just need a little mud to give your skin a reboot. It's the combination of peat and charcoal that makes all the difference to the PERFECT ONE FOCUS Smooth Cleansing Balm, a rich, black mud that deep cleans skin while imparting moisture to leave it baby-soft and instantly refreshed. It's a great deal right now, reduced by 10 percent when you enter code PERFECT2507 at checkout through October 31, 2025. Peat and charcoal are both incredibly beneficial for the skin, going deep to clean pores and leave skin looking radiant. With regular use, the balm can even reduce the appearance of stubborn blackheads. It's nutrient-rich, too, and absolutely packed with vital minerals that help diminish impurities and purify your complexion, giving even a lackluster complexion a quick, revitalizing glow. With a trio of encapsulated ceramides and gold oils, the balm is formulated to hydrate skin on contact and leave it feeling baby soft — so you can safely cleanse your face without worrying about it feeling tight and stripped. It has a spa-like quality thanks to the inclusion of both rose and orange essential oils, a nice touch that can make an ordinary cleansing routine feel more like some proper, well-deserved self-care. Just a little bit will go a long way, too! As you glide the balm onto your skin, it will instantly melt, allowing you to massage and promote circulation for a rosy, vibrant, and healthy appearance. The Smooth Cleansing Balm works nicely as an everyday cleanser, but you can just as easily use it to remove makeup. It's even safe to use on sensitive skin, and you can confidently use it on eyelash extensions without risk. It's no wonder that so many shoppers have awarded the product five stars. 'It's SO worth it!' exclaimed one. 'I absolutely love everything about this product. It cleanses my face with ease and smooths my skin with no oily or sticky residue.' Another said, 'For me, it really cleanses my skin. It removes makeup and sunscreen. My skin feels so refreshed after use. The best thing is that my skin doesn't feel stripped or overly dry afterward. It feels soft!' 'It's a new favorite, and I highly recommend it,' declared a third. What more could you ask for of a skin care product? Pick up the PERFECT ONE FOCUS Smooth Cleansing Balm for 10 percent off with code PERFECT2507 at checkout today.
The Sun
11 minutes ago
- The Sun
Rival fat jab WON'T increase in price, makers pledge – as Mounjaro set to double in costs
MAKERS of the fat jab Wegovy say they will not increase the price of the drug when the cost of rival Mounjaro doubles next month. A price war now looms as Danish firm Novo Nordisk said it is committed to keeping its weight loss injection affordable. Slimmers suffered a hammer blow on Thursday when Mounjaro maker Eli Lilly & Co revealed it would ramp up its pharmacy charges in September. Rates first revealed by The Sun show the UK wholesale price for a month's supply of the popular 5mg dose of tirzepatide will double from £92 to £180. A prescription with private pharmacy mark-ups typically costs buyers £150 to £200 and could now surge to more than £300. The minimum 2.5mg dose will cost pharmacies £133 up from £92, with a 10mg dose rising from £107 to £255 and the maximum 15mg from £122 to £330. Patients and pharmacists were shocked by the news and warned it could drive users to the black market. Price war could shake up market Wegovy is thought to be the second most popular weight loss injection used in the UK. It could now see a boom in users as its price will become more competitive after Mounjaro's rise. Studies suggest the jab, known as semaglutide and the same as Ozempic, is not as strong as Mounjaro but is still super-effective. Wegovy currently costs between £100 and £200 per month from private online pharmacies. A Novo Nordisk spokesperson told The Sun: 'We currently have no plans of changing our offering in the UK. 'Our focus is on supporting patients, and we are committed to ensuring that our medicines are not only innovative but also accessible and affordable for those who need them most. 'Our mission is to help create a healthier world by addressing some of the most pressing threats to public health – including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.' Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.
Daily Mail
38 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Mounjaro users panic over massive price hikes - experts reveal how to keep using weight loss jabs... for less
Mounjaro manufacturer Lilly sparked panic among slimmers yesterday after revealing it would more than double the price of the drug in the UK. The US pharmaceutical giant announced the cost would soar from September 1, with the wholesale price of a month's supply of the highest dose rising from £122 to £330. Lilly claimed it had initially launched Mounjaro in the UK at a price 'significantly below the European average to prevent delays in NHS availability' but that this must now change 'to ensure fair global contributions to the cost of innovation'. The announcement, however, does not affect the price the NHS pays, as the service has negotiated a heavily discounted rate for those getting the drug on prescription. But there are thought to be around 1.5 million people on weight loss drugs in the UK with more than half of them on Mounjaro—and estimates suggest nine in 10 pay for these drugs privately. Users flocked to social media warning denouncing the move, worried they were now left with no option but to come off the 'life changing' jab. 'I have no one to talk to about this and I'm freaking out,' one wrote on Reddit. 'Call it dramatic but I just cannot afford this, and this med is my only lifeline right now. I'm absolutely devastated. I don't know what to do.' Mounjaro price increases Mounjaro®▼ (tirzepatide) KwikPen® Dose Current UK List Price New UK List Price (From September) 2.5mg £92 £133 5mg £92 £180 7.5mg £107 £255 10mg £107 £255 12.5mg £122 £330 15mg £122 £330 Another said: 'I'm totally freaking out about it! I'm only about to go onto my 2nd pen now. The black market is going to be even more rife than ever due to this, fuming.' The main concern among slimmers is regaining weight after being forced to stop Mounjaro. Evidence suggests currently only around 2 to 10 per cent of people keep all their lost weight off if they stop taking the jabs, known collectively as GLP-1s. So is it possible to still access Mounjaro at a similar price? And crucially, what are options if you want to stay on the jabs but can't afford to? With the help of a team of experts, we explain everything you need to know about how to keep using weight loss jabs, for less... I already pay for Mounjaro privately - can I now get it on the NHS? Not necessarily. Only those who hit the body mass index (BMI) threshold set by the NHS may be prescribed weight-loss jabs. Patients must have a BMI of at least 40—severely obese—as well as four obesity-related conditions, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnoea, heart disease, osteoarthritis or diabetes. Next year, those with a BMI of over 35, along with four obesity-related conditions, will be offered the jabs. Then, in September 2026, those with a BMI of over 40 and just three related conditions will be able to access them on the NHS. Private clinics, however, can offer Mounjaro to patients with a BMI of over 30 or 27 if they also have at least one weight-related condition. 'There are lots of patients paying privately who want to switch to NHS treatment,' says Oxford GP Dr Helen Salisbury, 'but that won't happen overnight.' If I qualify for Mounjaro on the NHS, what are my next steps? Eligible patients need to make an appointment with their GP, which will likely be face-to-face in an effort to combat 'potential misuse'. The GP will assess medical records and, if necessary, contact other doctors who have recently treated the patient, to make sure they are a suitable candidate for treatment. If the prescription is approved, then patients will initially need to have monthly face-to-face appointments with a 'suitably trained healthcare professional', such as a nurse and monitored for potential side effects. GPs need to regularly review the patient's prescription, taking into account their BMI, comorbidities, side effects, and mental health, for at least the first year of treatment and possibly longer. I'm not eligible but can't afford to stay on Mounjaro from September—what are my options? Thousands of Mounjaro users could face a situation by the end of the month where they cannot afford to continue taking Mounjaro. But experts say it is possible to switch medication and begin a new weight loss jab. Thorrun Govind, a TV pharmacist and former chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, told the Daily Mail: 'Patients can ask their provider to switch and a decision will then be taken together.' Toby Nicol, CEO at private weight loss jab provider CheqUp, meanwhile said: 'A huge number of people will be considering switching and it's important that they know that this is absolutely possible. 'Wegovy is now a much more affordable option and is also clinically proven as a highly effective drug. 'We don't want anyone to be priced out and think they have to take something which is unsafe. 'Do not buy from the cowboys. If the price is to good to be true, it probably is.' Experts, however, have warned against trying to 'microdose' remaining Mounjaro pens in an effort to prolong the drug and save money. The term, refers to counting clicks on pre–filled Mounjaro pens to deliver less than the prescribed dose—or even breaking them open. 'People are risking serious side effects from overdosing, as well as the potential for life–threatening infection,' said Professor Alex Miras, an endocrinologist at Ulster University. 'We cannot endorse it.' He added: 'Not only is contamination a risk, but it also reduces the effectiveness of the medication.' So which jab should I switch to? Pharmacists have said Wegovy is the most likely option. The drug, which contains the ingredient semaglutide, is made by Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk. Kevin Joshua, the clinical lead at Juniper, an online pharmacy selling weight-loss jabs, said: 'For many, the pragmatic move is to switch to Wegovy—proven outcomes, a cardiovascular risk‑reduction indication in people living with overweight or obesity, and more predictable private costs.' Clinical trials have shown Mounjaro is the most effective of all the injections, with average weight loss of 20 per cent over 72 weeks. By comparison, Wegovy achieved average weight loss of around 14 per cent. Experts suggest this is because Wegovy mimics one hormone released by the body after a meal, to flip one appetite switch in the brain. Mounjaro, meanwhile, flips two. How can I make the switch safely? Given the two jabs contain different ingredients, how well the body tolerates them may differ. As with any medication, patients may need to adjust to the side effects of a new medicine. Dr Suhail Hussain, a GP for private online clinic Doctify, said: 'Mounjaro tends to be better tolerated in terms of gastrointestinal side effects than Wegovy, so patients may experience more nausea or vomiting.' Other common side effects of beginning a new GLP-1 medication includes nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and headaches. Ms Govind told Daily Mail that one way patients may make the switch is by 'taking your next semaglutide dose one week after your last Mounjaro injection, effectively replacing it without a break'. She added: 'This avoids a "hunger rebound" that can happen if you leave a long gap. 'There is no direct dose conversion between tirzepatide and semaglutide. So you might switch to a low dose semaglutide and then go up in dose.' Should I come off Mounjaro completely first before starting a new medication? Experts have repeatedly warned against completely stopping taking weight loss jabs suddenly over fears of side effects such as body aches, as well as regaining the weight lost on the drug. But according to pharmacists, patients must first completely come off Mounjaro before switching to a new jab, such as Wegovy. This is because the GLP-1 jabs affect the same hormones and could 'massively increase the risk of side effects', Ms Govind told the Daily Mail. There is also not clear long term evidence yet on the long term issues this could cause, she added. 'For patients who are currently on Mounjaro, it may require a period of abstinence of several weeks before switching on an alternative,' Dr Leyla Hannbeck also told the Daily Mail. 'Your pharmacist will be able to advise you on the switch.' Ms Govind added: 'Typically it's seven days between the last tirzepatide and the first semaglutide dose. 'But it depends on the side effects that the patient has experienced and their tolerability to those side effects.'
