Overview
- The walkout by BMA-represented resident doctors is scheduled for 7am Friday to November 19 across England.
- Wes Streeting issued a last-minute plea to cancel the action, warned it could cost the NHS just under £250 million, and reiterated his claim that doctors have had a 28.9% pay rise under the current government.
- The BMA said it has seen no new offer and will proceed, with its resident doctors’ committee chair saying the union seeks a deal on both pay and jobs and is calling for a 26% uplift.
- NHS England chief executive Sir Jim Mackey told trusts to keep core services running, maintain emergency and maternity care, preserve urgent and cancer treatments, and aim for at least 95% of expected elective activity, with rescheduling only in exceptional cases.
- Streeting escalated his criticism at the NHS Providers conference, accusing the BMA of cartel-like behavior and insisting the government will not be held to ransom.