WES Streeting offered resident doctors cheaper lunches in a last-ditch effort to avert strike action – but they still rejected a deal.
The Sun can reveal the Health Secretary’s final snubbed offer to the British Medical Association ahead of tomorrow’s five-day walkout.
Wes Streeting offered striking resident doctors cheaper lunchesGetty
While warning he “cannot move on pay”, he proposed to reduce the costs of exams, equipment, and even “food and drink costs experienced by doctors”.
Mr Streeting also stressed a £100million investment in post-graduate training places in 2027/28.
A letter sent on Monday – since rejected – said: “We can resolve this dispute without the need for strike action, and I urge you to seriously consider my offer for a way forward.
“Postponing your strike action to allow discussions to take place does not cost you anything, and your mandate to undertake strike action remains intact.”
Striking doctors could be heading for their lowest picket line turnout since the pay row began.
Just 27,000 voted “yes” to walkouts – the lowest so far.
The strongest turnout was in March 2023 as 29,000 downed tools each day, after 36,000 voted to.
“If the turnout is the same as the first strike, there will be 21,000 at the picket line.
Those who voted “no” quadrupled to 2,956. Sean Phillips, of the Policy Exchange think tank, said: “The indications are this turnout will be lower, given a reduced mandate for strikes.”
Hospitals have this time refused to cancel appointments.
But the BMA’s Ross Nieuwoudt said if hospital chiefs fail to cover A&E by doing so it could be “a dereliction of duty”.
BMA chair Dr Tom Dolphin was criticised after appearing to compare US murder suspect Luigi Mangione to Jesus in an online post.
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