
Resident doctors reach âgreater mutual understandingâ with government
The British Medical Association and the government have reached a âgreater mutual understandingâ after constructive talks yesterday (5 August).
The doctorsâ union met with health secretary Wes Streeting and said there would be âfurther cooperation on bringing strike action to an endâ and that they would work together to address the BMAâs pay demands.
At the end of July, resident (formerly known as junior) doctors in England walked out for five days. They are looking for a 29.2% salary increase in a bid to reach âfull pay restorationâ and offset a real-terms decline in pay since 2008.
The strike itself had a limited impact on patient care, according to NHS England, which reported a 93% level of planned care maintenance during the strike.
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Ross Nieuwoudt and Melissa Ryan, co-chairs of the BMAâs resident doctorsâ committee (RDC), described the meeting with the health secretary as âinformativeâ and âconstructiveâ.
The RDC added that it was eager to work with the Department of Health and Social Care in finding a way forward.
Nieuwoudt and Ryan said: âWe met yesterday with Mr Streeting to once again reiterate what is needed to bring this dispute to an end. We were very clear about the determination of resident doctors to return to a fair level of pay.
âOur conversation was informative and we feel that we have achieved a greater mutual understanding than in previous talks. We have agreed a window for negotiations, which we hope the government will use wisely.
âWe want to work with the Department for Health and Social Care to deliver on non-pay items it previously agreed to, and to forge mutual respect following years when the previous incumbents seemingly cared little for doctorsâ pay or wellbeing.
Following a constructive meeting with @BMAResidents reps yesterday, weâve agreed a window for negotiations without strikes in August to see if a resolution can be reached.
Letâs see if we can build a spirit of partnership to build an NHS that works for patients and staff alike.
â Wes Streeting (@wesstreeting) August 6, 2025
âWe are clear, though, that going forward there has to be movement on pay.â
The RDC is also keen to address what it describes as the âdoctor unemployment crisisâ looming due to skyrocketing competition for specialty training places, the traditional pathway for doctors to follow when they complete their foundation training.
They added: âWe also reminded Mr Streeting of the urgent need to provide enough jobs for doctors and bring an end to the current situation where thousands of resident doctors apply for far too few roles, leaving many unable to progress their careers and go on to be our future consultants, GPs and other specialist doctors.
“We are working to ensure strike action does not need to be repeated and will give time to explore solutions. However, doctors and patients both deserve a resolution sooner rather than later.â
On X, Streeting posted: âFollowing a constructive meeting with @BMAResidents reps yesterday, weâve agreed a window for negotiations without strikes in August to see if a resolution can be reached.
âLetâs see if we can build a spirit of partnership to build an NHS that works for patients and staff alike.â
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Originally posted on: https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/resident-doctors-mutual-understanding/