Latest news with #RobertWinston
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Junior doctors and Streeting set for showdown talks in last-ditch bid to avoid ‘dangerous' 5-day NHS strike
Wes Streeting is set to hold last-ditch talks with doctors ' union leaders in an effort to avoid five days of 'highly dangerous' NHS walkouts later this month. Junior doctors in England are set to strike from 7am on July 25 as part of a pay dispute with the government. Professor Robert Winston, a Labour peer who became a household name through his documentaries on child development, has warned the 'highly dangerous' industrial action risks harming the public's trust in the profession. But the new leader of the British Medical Association (BMA) has said that the doctors' 29 per cent pay demand is 'non-negotiable' and warned strikes could go on for years. Discussions are set to take place this week, however, the BBC reported that the BMA would only halt the strikes if it receives an offer it can put to its members. Mr Streeting has previously told the union that, after junior doctors received a 28.9 per cent pay rise last year when Labour entered government, the public would not understand why 'you would still walk out on strike, and neither do I'. A new poll also suggests public support for such a strike has collapsed. While last summer's doctor strikes saw public support of 52 per cent, the industrial action planned for later this month is only supported by one in four (26 per cent) members of the public, the survey by Ipsos found. Mr Streeting told the Commons on Thursday: 'We have put the NHS on the road to recovery, but we all know that the NHS is still hanging by a thread, and that the BMA is threatening to pull it.' Professor Winston resigned from the BMA following the strike announcement and urged the union to reconsider, saying it is 'important that doctors consider their own responsibility much more seriously', and stressed that the walkout could cause 'long-term damage' to people's faith in doctors. Alan Johnson, who was health secretary for two years under Tony Blair and who used to lead a union himself, told The Independent: 'This has all the signs of the BMA leading their troops into a battle they can't win, nor should they, given that government has honoured the pay review recommendations in full having settled last year's dispute immediately on taking office. 'I doubt if there's anybody with any trade union experience who thinks the BMA have chosen the right terrain on which to go to war with the government. This is a battle Wes Streeting has to win,' he added. Former Tory health minister Steve Brine also warned the strikes had the potential to 'undo the good' that had been done on cutting NHS waiting lists. Some 90 per cent of voting resident doctors backed the strike action, while the BMA said the turnout was 55 per cent. The BMA has been contacted for comment.
Rhyl Journal
3 days ago
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
Health Secretary to meet BMA ahead of planned strike action by resident doctors
The BMA announced last week that resident doctors – formerly known as junior doctors – in England would walk out for five consecutive days from 7am on July 25 amid a pay dispute with the Government. The BMA said the discussions will begin negotiations on how this month's strike can be prevented. Mr Streeting is reportedly sympathetic to improving working conditions for doctors, but will not budge on salaries. Reacting to the BMA announcement on Wednesday, Mr Streeting called the move 'completely unreasonable' and urged the union to 'abandon their rush to strike', while health chiefs warned strikes are 'unfair to patients'. Mr Streeting told the Commons on Thursday: 'We have put the NHS on the road to recovery, but we all know that the NHS is still hanging by a thread, and that the BMA is threatening to pull it.' TV doctor and IVF pioneer, Professor Robert Winston, resigned from the BMA following the strike announcement, writing in The Times: 'I've paid my membership for a long time. I feel very strongly that this isn't the time to be striking. 'I think that the country is really struggling in all sorts of ways, people are struggling in all sorts of ways. 'Strike action completely ignores the vulnerability of people in front of you.' He urged the union to reconsider, saying it is 'important that doctors consider their own responsibility much more seriously', and stressed that the walkout could cause 'long-term damage' to people's faith in doctors. Some 90% of voting resident doctors backed the strike action, with the BMA reporting a turnout of 55%. The union has said that resident doctors need a pay uplift of 29.2% to reverse 'pay erosion' since 2008-09. In September, BMA members voted to accept a government pay deal worth 22.3% on average over two years. The 2025-26 pay deal saw resident doctors given a 4% uplift plus £750 'on a consolidated basis' – working out as an average pay rise of 5.4%. The BMA call for a 29.2% uplift is based on Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation, the measure of average changes in the price of goods and services used by most households. BMA resident doctors committee co-chairs, Dr Ross Nieuwoudt and Dr Melissa Ryan, said: 'We have been clear throughout the dispute that we are happy to continue discussions to find a solution that both our members will find acceptable and that can prevent any strike action having to take place. 'We are glad that the Secretary of State has taken us up on our offer and we look forward to constructive discussions, in the hope that we can make progress that would be sufficient to support suspending the planned strike.'
Leader Live
3 days ago
- Health
- Leader Live
Health Secretary to meet BMA ahead of planned strike action by resident doctors
The BMA announced last week that resident doctors – formerly known as junior doctors – in England would walk out for five consecutive days from 7am on July 25 amid a pay dispute with the Government. The BMA said the discussions will begin negotiations on how this month's strike can be prevented. Mr Streeting is reportedly sympathetic to improving working conditions for doctors, but will not budge on salaries. Reacting to the BMA announcement on Wednesday, Mr Streeting called the move 'completely unreasonable' and urged the union to 'abandon their rush to strike', while health chiefs warned strikes are 'unfair to patients'. Mr Streeting told the Commons on Thursday: 'We have put the NHS on the road to recovery, but we all know that the NHS is still hanging by a thread, and that the BMA is threatening to pull it.' TV doctor and IVF pioneer, Professor Robert Winston, resigned from the BMA following the strike announcement, writing in The Times: 'I've paid my membership for a long time. I feel very strongly that this isn't the time to be striking. 'I think that the country is really struggling in all sorts of ways, people are struggling in all sorts of ways. 'Strike action completely ignores the vulnerability of people in front of you.' He urged the union to reconsider, saying it is 'important that doctors consider their own responsibility much more seriously', and stressed that the walkout could cause 'long-term damage' to people's faith in doctors. Some 90% of voting resident doctors backed the strike action, with the BMA reporting a turnout of 55%. The union has said that resident doctors need a pay uplift of 29.2% to reverse 'pay erosion' since 2008-09. In September, BMA members voted to accept a government pay deal worth 22.3% on average over two years. The 2025-26 pay deal saw resident doctors given a 4% uplift plus £750 'on a consolidated basis' – working out as an average pay rise of 5.4%. The BMA call for a 29.2% uplift is based on Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation, the measure of average changes in the price of goods and services used by most households. BMA resident doctors committee co-chairs, Dr Ross Nieuwoudt and Dr Melissa Ryan, said: 'We have been clear throughout the dispute that we are happy to continue discussions to find a solution that both our members will find acceptable and that can prevent any strike action having to take place. 'We are glad that the Secretary of State has taken us up on our offer and we look forward to constructive discussions, in the hope that we can make progress that would be sufficient to support suspending the planned strike.'
South Wales Guardian
3 days ago
- Health
- South Wales Guardian
Health Secretary to meet BMA ahead of planned strike action by resident doctors
The BMA announced last week that resident doctors – formerly known as junior doctors – in England would walk out for five consecutive days from 7am on July 25 amid a pay dispute with the Government. The BMA said the discussions will begin negotiations on how this month's strike can be prevented. Mr Streeting is reportedly sympathetic to improving working conditions for doctors, but will not budge on salaries. Reacting to the BMA announcement on Wednesday, Mr Streeting called the move 'completely unreasonable' and urged the union to 'abandon their rush to strike', while health chiefs warned strikes are 'unfair to patients'. Mr Streeting told the Commons on Thursday: 'We have put the NHS on the road to recovery, but we all know that the NHS is still hanging by a thread, and that the BMA is threatening to pull it.' TV doctor and IVF pioneer, Professor Robert Winston, resigned from the BMA following the strike announcement, writing in The Times: 'I've paid my membership for a long time. I feel very strongly that this isn't the time to be striking. 'I think that the country is really struggling in all sorts of ways, people are struggling in all sorts of ways. 'Strike action completely ignores the vulnerability of people in front of you.' He urged the union to reconsider, saying it is 'important that doctors consider their own responsibility much more seriously', and stressed that the walkout could cause 'long-term damage' to people's faith in doctors. Some 90% of voting resident doctors backed the strike action, with the BMA reporting a turnout of 55%. The union has said that resident doctors need a pay uplift of 29.2% to reverse 'pay erosion' since 2008-09. In September, BMA members voted to accept a government pay deal worth 22.3% on average over two years. The 2025-26 pay deal saw resident doctors given a 4% uplift plus £750 'on a consolidated basis' – working out as an average pay rise of 5.4%. The BMA call for a 29.2% uplift is based on Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation, the measure of average changes in the price of goods and services used by most households. BMA resident doctors committee co-chairs, Dr Ross Nieuwoudt and Dr Melissa Ryan, said: 'We have been clear throughout the dispute that we are happy to continue discussions to find a solution that both our members will find acceptable and that can prevent any strike action having to take place. 'We are glad that the Secretary of State has taken us up on our offer and we look forward to constructive discussions, in the hope that we can make progress that would be sufficient to support suspending the planned strike.'
North Wales Chronicle
3 days ago
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Health Secretary to meet BMA ahead of planned strike action by resident doctors
The BMA announced last week that resident doctors – formerly known as junior doctors – in England would walk out for five consecutive days from 7am on July 25 amid a pay dispute with the Government. The BMA said the discussions will begin negotiations on how this month's strike can be prevented. Mr Streeting is reportedly sympathetic to improving working conditions for doctors, but will not budge on salaries. Reacting to the BMA announcement on Wednesday, Mr Streeting called the move 'completely unreasonable' and urged the union to 'abandon their rush to strike', while health chiefs warned strikes are 'unfair to patients'. Mr Streeting told the Commons on Thursday: 'We have put the NHS on the road to recovery, but we all know that the NHS is still hanging by a thread, and that the BMA is threatening to pull it.' TV doctor and IVF pioneer, Professor Robert Winston, resigned from the BMA following the strike announcement, writing in The Times: 'I've paid my membership for a long time. I feel very strongly that this isn't the time to be striking. 'I think that the country is really struggling in all sorts of ways, people are struggling in all sorts of ways. 'Strike action completely ignores the vulnerability of people in front of you.' He urged the union to reconsider, saying it is 'important that doctors consider their own responsibility much more seriously', and stressed that the walkout could cause 'long-term damage' to people's faith in doctors. Some 90% of voting resident doctors backed the strike action, with the BMA reporting a turnout of 55%. The union has said that resident doctors need a pay uplift of 29.2% to reverse 'pay erosion' since 2008-09. In September, BMA members voted to accept a government pay deal worth 22.3% on average over two years. The 2025-26 pay deal saw resident doctors given a 4% uplift plus £750 'on a consolidated basis' – working out as an average pay rise of 5.4%. The BMA call for a 29.2% uplift is based on Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation, the measure of average changes in the price of goods and services used by most households. BMA resident doctors committee co-chairs, Dr Ross Nieuwoudt and Dr Melissa Ryan, said: 'We have been clear throughout the dispute that we are happy to continue discussions to find a solution that both our members will find acceptable and that can prevent any strike action having to take place. 'We are glad that the Secretary of State has taken us up on our offer and we look forward to constructive discussions, in the hope that we can make progress that would be sufficient to support suspending the planned strike.'
