The British Medical Association (BMA) has agreed to resume negotiations with Health Secretary Wes Streeting following the conclusion of a five-day strike by junior doctors in England.

The walkout, which ended on Wednesday morning, was the twelfth since early 2023 and the first under the newly elected Labour government. It followed a breakdown in talks last week over working conditions and pay.

After the strike concluded, Streeting extended an invitation to return to the negotiating table — an offer the BMA has now formally accepted. However, the health secretary has made it clear that pay will not be up for discussion during the upcoming talks. Instead, the talks will resume where they left off, focusing on non-pay issues such as career development, rota fairness, exam fees, and workplace support.

Friction Over Timing and Trust

In a letter sent to the BMA on Wednesday, Streeting criticised the union’s decision to proceed with the strike, calling it “deeply disappointing” and “entirely unnecessary.” He pointed out that talks had already been underway to improve doctors’ working conditions and said the strike had undermined both patient care and the government’s goodwill.

“It is ironic that the BMA is now asking to resume talks,” Streeting wrote, adding that he had “never left the table.” He warned the union that the strike had eroded the trust built since Labour took office.

Despite his frustration, the health secretary confirmed he remained open to meeting early next week.

Background to the Dispute

Shortly after the general election, Streeting brokered a temporary deal with junior doctors, pausing strike action and granting a 22% pay rise over two years. An additional average 5.4% increase was announced this year. But the BMA argues these improvements are still not enough to restore pay to 2008 levels, prompting renewed industrial action.

Junior doctors — often called resident doctors — represent nearly half of the UK’s medical workforce. They include recent medical graduates as well as those with several years of experience. Many have cited burnout, low morale, and unsustainable working conditions as reasons for supporting strike action.

The BMA’s junior doctor committee, co-chaired by Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt, said they welcomed the opportunity to return to discussions.

“We hope this time the secretary of state is ready to present a more detailed and acceptable offer,” they said in a joint statement.

NHS Impact Still Unclear

Although the exact scale of disruption caused by the latest strike is still being assessed, early signs suggest the NHS may have managed better than during previous strikes. Several hospitals reported being able to maintain over 80% of their usual non-urgent services, including planned surgeries like knee and hip operations. During earlier walkouts, that figure dropped as low as 50%.

Even so, NHS leaders remain concerned about the long-term effects of repeated industrial action on patient care, waiting times, and staff morale.

As both sides prepare to meet again, the government faces pressure to rebuild trust with NHS staff and avoid further strikes. While pay remains a sticking point, the focus of the upcoming talks will be on improving working conditions — an area both sides agree is crucial to retaining and supporting junior doctors.

The new round of negotiations is expected to begin early next week.

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