• All_world_news
• Visit Article Link

• BBC
• Tue May 27 2025

Streeting urges doctors to vote no in strike ballot

7 hours ago Share Save Hugh Pym ? @bbcHughPym Health editor Nick Triggle ? @nicktriggle Health correspondent Share Save

EPA Health Secretary Wes Streeting

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has urged doctors in England to "vote no" in a ballot on industrial action which gets under way on Tuesday. In a BBC interview, he urged resident doctors, the new name for junior doctors, to "work with the government" and warned strikes risked hampering the progress being made in the NHS. He said it was in no-one's interests for strikes to take place. Last week it was announced resident doctors would be getting a 5.4% average pay rise this year - more than other doctors, nurses and teachers. But resident doctors, who took part in 11 strikes in 2023 and 2024, said it was not enough to make up for below-inflation pay awards since 2008.

The union is urging members to vote for industrial action, with sources saying strikes would be the likely action taken. This year's pay rise comes after resident doctors were awarded rises worth 22% over the previous two years. Streeting agreed to that deal shortly after coming into office, ending a dispute which had lasted more than a year. Taking account of this year's pay rise, it means the starting salary for a doctor fresh out of university has risen by ?9,500 over the past three years to around ?38,800, the government said.

'Grotesque'