Resident doctors are to be consulted on whether to call off their forthcoming strike after receiving an offer from the government, the British Medical Association (BMA) says.
The doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, are due to walk out for five days from next Wednesday in a row over pay and concerns over training places.
Health secretary Wes Streeting accused the BMA of “playing games with patients’ lives” by delaying a decision on whether to call off the strikes.
It said it would survey members online on whether or not the deal is enough to call off planned walkouts next week.
The online poll will close on Monday, just two days before the five-day strike is set to start.
Concerns have been raised that the planned strike coincides with a “tidal wave” of illness sweeping the UK, including a particularly debilitating strain of flu. Two hospital trusts in the Midlands declared critical incidents this week due to high pressure.
The BMA, which is the doctors’ union, said the new offer included: new legislation to ensure homegrown doctors in training have priority for speciality training roles; an increase in speciality training posts over the next three years, with 1,000 of them to start next year, and funding mandatory examination and Royal College membership fees for resident doctors.
The union said it would consult members on the government’s new deal to end the “jobs crisis” for doctors in England.
Mr Streeting said he offered to allow the BMA to reschedule strike action for later in January if members rejected his deal but that the union had refused to do that, so strikes still loomed.
“NHS leaders are going to have to start cancelling other doctors’ leave now to cover potential strikes, and patients will also experience unnecessary and avoidable disruption through some cancelled appointments and operations. That’s on the BMA.
“They didn’t have to do that, they have chosen to do that, I think that’s hugely irresponsible given the level of disruption that this will inflict at one of the busiest times of year for the NHS.”
He went on: “While I’m frustrated with the BMA, and I think they’re playing games now with patients’ lives and the lives of other doctors who will be forced to cover strikes, that doesn’t alter the fact that what we’ve put forward is a good deal for doctors.”
He issued an appeal to doctors.
“So I’m going over the head of the BMA now and appealing directly to doctors to work with a government that wants to work with you to vote for a deal which tackles the jobs crisis that doctors have raised with us in a real and meaningful and urgent way, and would enable us to draw a line under this dispute and start the new year with a fresh start,” Mr Streeting said.
BMA resident doctors’ committee chairman Jack Fletcher said: “If members believe this is enough to call off strike action, then we will hold a referendum to end the dispute.
“But if they give us a clear message that it is not, the government will have to go further to end industrial action.”
Rory Deighton, acute and community care director at the NHS Confederation, said the strikes would come at the worst possible time, with rapidly rising flu levels putting huge strain on hospitals. “And despite NHS leaders working incredibly hard to prepare, we are concerned it could put patient safety at risk,” he said.
Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, said strikes had been disruptive and distressing for patients and divisive for staff and had caused huge cost to the NHS.
“We urge BMA members to seize the moment and bring this damaging dispute to an end,” he said.
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