Resident doctors 'happy' to discuss halting strike action as BMA chief tells Streeting 'threats are not the way out of this'

Want LBC stories before everyone else? Set us as your Preferred Source on Google

Dr Jack Fletcher, chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA) resident doctors committee, has told LBC that he will "happily meet the government" to avoid strike action "but ultimately, there has to be an improvement to that offer."

Speaking with Tom Swarbrick on Thursday, Dr Jack Fletcher accused Wes Streeting and the government of not using "fair or reasonable negotiating tactics".

It comes as resident doctors in England are to “press ahead” with a planned walkout next week after crunch talks failed to avert the strike action, the Government has said as it took a key part of its offer off the table.

The Department of Health and Social Care said an offer of 1,000 extra training places, which was part of the Government deal on pay and jobs, will no longer be “financially or operationally” possible as the NHS prepares to deal with the fallout from the strike.

Tens of thousands of resident doctors in England are set to stage a six-day walkout on Tuesday, immediately after the Easter weekend.

"We're encouraging all resident doctors in England to take industrial action. However, we are also recognising that patients who are listening this morning, who might have care rescheduled next week or who are sort of disrupted by these strikes, we're genuinely very regrettable for that," Dr Fletcher told Tom.

Read more: Resident doctors in England announce six-day strike amid ongoing row over pay and jobs

Read more: NHS delayed deadly meningitis outbreak warnings by two days and 'put lives at risk'

"We don't want to do this and I know people say 'yes, you do', because you're going out," he continued.

"We do not want to do this. I've made that very clear several times. We will postpone the action if the Government returns to the table, gives us a credible offer. A credible offer, that is the best route out of this.

Adding: "I don't think the route out of this is by threatening to take jobs off the table, which is bad for doctors but ultimately bad for patients."

Resident doctors in England have announced a six-day strike starting at 7am on April 7 in an ongoing row over jobs and pay.

It comes after a government deadline to call off the strikes or facing losing extra training places expired earlier this week.

Shortly after the action was announced the GMB union said that staff at the BMA will also strike on April 6 and April 7 in a row over pay erosion.

Employees at the doctors’ union are already planning a walk out later this week on Friday and Saturday.

GMB said the BMA’s most recent pay offer to its staff of 2.75% is lower than the 3.5% awarded to doctors by the Government, which the BMA described as a “crushing blow to doctors in England”.

Gavin Davies, GMB senior organiser, said: “These strikes have laid bare the BMA’s ongoing hypocrisy.

“Our members want to focus on doing what they do best: supporting their members at work.

“But just like the resident doctors they support, they cannot continue to accept another year of pay erosion while the cost of living continues to spiral.

“We are urging the BMA to come back to the table with a constructive offer that recognises our members’ value.”

A BMA spokesperson said: “We recognise the strength of feeling among our staff and respect their right to take part in a democratic ballot.

“Our staff play a vital role in supporting the work of the organisation and we value the dedication and professionalism they bring to their roles.

“We remain committed to negotiations with the GMB to work towards a resolution and want to continue open and meaningful dialogue in the hope of reaching a settlement that is fair to staff and sustainable for the organisation.

“We had previously increased our original offer to staff from an uplift of 2% to 2.75%, plus an additional £1,000 consolidated offer for colleagues in the lower paid grades.

“This is in addition to enhanced paid paternity leave (four weeks) and an extra three days annual leave, taking the total for 2026 to 34 days plus bank holidays.

“Given the BMA’s ongoing financial recovery plan, this increased offer puts the Association at the very limit of keeping that recovery on track to give the BMA a sound financial footing for the future.

“We will now work to ensure we can continue to provide key and critical services for our members during the strike period.

“We remain committed and open to an ongoing dialogue with our GMB colleagues and hope we can still settle the dispute.”