Overview
- The BMA is surveying resident doctors on whether to accept the deal and call off a five-day strike from 17 December, with the consultation set to close on Monday; the union says the plan does not restore pay or increase overall doctor numbers.
- The government’s offer includes emergency legislation to prioritise UK and Republic of Ireland graduates, plus doctors with significant NHS service, for specialty training posts.
- The package promises 4,000 additional specialty training places with 1,000 accelerated, funding for mandatory exam and Royal College fees, and an increase in the less-than-full-time allowance to £1,500.
- Ministers warn they cannot deliver the training expansion if strikes continue and say they offered to extend the strike mandate and permit any rejected action to be rescheduled to January.
- Hospitals report record flu admissions and recent critical incidents at some trusts, with NHS leaders cautioning that walkouts during peak winter pressure could trigger further cancellations and heighten safety risks.