NHS Treats Doctors "Like Crap", Says Health Secretary Wes Streeting

Strategic Insights -

Health secretary Wes Streeting has confessed that the NHS has a habit of treating doctors poorly, but urged them not to take strike action, fearing it would set back progress made on reducing waiting lists. The NHS plans to offer a 4% pay rise for most doctors, which unions deem too low. Resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, are currently being balloted for strike action.

Key Takeaways:

  • The NHS treats doctors "like crap" and can be a "bad employer" according to Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
  • The government's latest pay offer of a 4% pay rise for most doctors is too low according to unions.
  • Resident doctors, formerly junior doctors, are being balloted for strike action.
  • The NHS waiting list rose for the first time in seven months in March, reaching 7.42 million.
  • The previous pay dispute with doctors lasted from March 2023 to September 2024 and was settled with a deal that increased the average starting salary of a full-time resident doctor to around £38,800.
  • The government's latest pay increase is above the rate of inflation, but unions argue it is not sufficient to address the impact of previous pay freezes.
  • The ballot for strike action will run until July 7, and if doctors vote for action, strike action could take place between July and January next year.
  • The British Medical Association (BMA) represents doctors and argues that the pay increase is not enough to address the impact of previous pay freezes.
  • The government's pay offer includes an average pay award of 5.4% for 2025 to 2026, which is in line with the independent pay review body recommendations.

Statistics:

  • 7.42 million: the number of people on NHS waiting lists in March.
  • £38,800: the estimated average starting salary of a full-time resident doctor in 2025, up by £9,500 compared to 2022-23.
  • 4%: the percentage pay rise offered to most doctors in the latest government pay offer.
  • 5.4%: the percentage pay rise recommended by the independent pay review body for 2025 to 2026.
  • 23%: the percentage decline in real terms of doctors' pay since 2008.
  • 10-20 years: the number of years it would take for doctors to reach the same level of pay as 2008 if the current pay rise is continued.
  • 7.8 million: the peak number of people on NHS waiting lists in September 2023.
  • 7.4 million: the number of people on NHS waiting lists in February.

Sources:

  • The Independent
  • PA Wire
  • Getty
  • British Medical Association (BMA)
  • Office for National Statistics (ONS)
  • NHS England