𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The militant doctors’ union is set to plunge the NHS into pre-Christmas chaos after the BMA announced a fresh junior doctors’ strike this December.

Resident doctors – formally known as junior doctors – will join the picket lines from the 17th December to the 22nd December.

Confirming their latest round of industrial action, the union said: “After our last round of strike action, we gave @wesstreeting a window to deliver sufficient progress towards a viable deal on jobs and pay.

“That hasn’t happened. We’ve been given no choice but to return to the picket lines.”

The five-day strike could cost the NHS around £240,000.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has won plaudits for refusing to give into the hardline union’s pay demands, but the news is a huge blow to the Labour government, which has made reducing waiting lists a key part of its programme.

Last week Mr Streeting accused the BMA of being “impossible” and spreading “misleading” information.

The union’s members walked out in November over pay, amid demands for a further 26% rise on top of the 30% rise received last year.

The Health Secretary has accused striking doctors of “behaving like a cartel” in an extraordinary deterioration of relations.

He told the union it is time to “get real” and accused them of “no longer [acting as] a professional voice for doctors.

“They are increasingly behaving in cartel-like behaviour, and they threaten not just the recovery of the NHS under this Government, they threaten the future of the NHS full stop and I think that is a morally reprehensible position.

“I’m frustrated to the point of actual fury about where we are in this round of strikes. I have so much sympathy for the issues they raise in terms of the conditions that members face at work… also their career prospects.

“So I came into this office really in their corner, wanting to make progress. And I will still make progress for [doctors], but I will do it without the BMA.

“I will make progress on speciality training places because it’s the right thing to do. I will tackle the international medical graduates issue because it’s the right thing to do. I will do both of those things without the BMA.”

The Department for Health was approached for comment.

Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, said: “With the Government failing to put forward a credible plan to fix the jobs crisis for resident doctors at the same time as pushing a real terms pay cut for them, we have no choice but to announce more strike dates.

“However, these do not need to go ahead. Gradually raising pay over a few years and some common-sense fixes to the job security of our doctors are well within the reach of this Government.

“It would ensure both the long-term strength of our healthcare workforce and spare the country the indignity of see unemployed doctors at a time patients are queuing up to even see a GP.

“This month we’ve seen the full farcical extent of the jobs crisis, with second-year doctors applying for training posts being asked to provide evidence of experience well beyond what would have previously been asked of them.

“It is precisely this sort of situation which is driving doctors away from jobs and to the picket line. But it is not too late for Government to get a grip on the situation.”

The Tories slammed Labour’s broken promise to rebuild relations with NHS staff, saying their failure to resolve the dispute “has cost taxpayers millions and left patients facing a nightmare before Christmas.”

Shadow Health Secretary Stuart Andrew added: “As the NHS braces for another round of walkouts, it is clear stronger action is needed. If Labour is serious about reducing waiting lists and protecting patients, they would back our plans.

“Only the Conservatives have common sense proposals for the NHS, including banning doctors’ strikes to protect both patients and the public finances.”

This is a breaking news story. More to come…