WES Streeting has offered greater work perks to junior doctors in a last-gasp bid to avert damaging NHS strikes – but is holding firm on pay.
The Health Secretary wrote to the British Medical Association yesterday urging them to call off walkouts due to start Friday.
GettyWes Streeting has offered greater work perks to junior doctors in a last-gasp bid to avert damaging NHS strikes – but is holding firm on pay[/caption]
A quarter of a million appointments could be impacted if militant union bosses refuse to cancel their five days of industrial action.
While their eye-watering 29 per cent pay demands have been rebuffed – along with any salary increase – The Sun understands concessions have been made on working conditions.
It involves limiting the costs borne by resident doctors at work, with reports many were having to buy some their own hospital kit.
Improvements to resident doctors’ training rotations and faster career progression are also on the table – but wiping parts of their student debt has been ruled out.
A source close to the dispute last night said the talks were “finely balanced” and that negotiations would go down to the wire.
The BMA is expected to respond to Mr Streeting’s latest olive branch today.
Analysis by the Policy Exchange think tank found that the five days of industrial action threatened by the BMA could reduce inpatient activity for the month of July by 4.5 per cent and outpatient activity by 8.7 per cent.
The strikes would threaten Sir Keir Starmer’s target of 65 per cent of patient treatment plans being completed within 18 weeks from next Spring.
Meanwhile, the cost of paying consultants to cover resident doctor rotas could hit £87.46m.
Resident doctors are clinging to demands for a 29 per cent pay rise, with the BMA having amassed a £1m war chest ahead of Friday’s action.
It comes despite the NHS staff having already received a staggering 22 per cent hike last year.
Tory Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith blasted: “Labour has bent over backwards for the unions every chance they have got with no-strings-attached pay rises.
“It is no surprise they are now running riot. They are out of control.
“Thanks to Labour’s weakness, we are now facing a summer of discontent.”
Ex-Tory Leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith added: “The unions are Labour’s paymasters at the end of the day.
“They’re getting their payback by being allowed to run riot.”
AlamyResident doctors have been offered better working conditions in a last-gasp bid to avoid strikes[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
