Resident doctors in England have suspended their planned strike action after receiving a new pay offer from the government, the British Medical Association (BMA) has announced.
New Offer Averts Further Disruption
The BMA said it had received an improved proposal from the Department of Health and Social Care, leading to the immediate cancellation of the 48-hour strike that was scheduled to begin next week. The union will now ballot its members on whether to accept the offer.
Dr. Vishal Sharma, co-chair of the BMA's junior doctors committee, said the offer represented a significant step forward. "After months of negotiations, we have finally secured a deal that addresses our core concerns around pay restoration and working conditions," he said.
Details of the Offer
While the full details have not been disclosed, sources indicate the offer includes a pay rise of around 20% over two years, along with commitments to improve rota gaps and reduce excessive working hours. The government has also agreed to review the doctors' pay review body process.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting welcomed the suspension of strike action, stating that the government was committed to resolving the dispute. "We have listened to the concerns of junior doctors and worked hard to find a fair solution," he said.
Impact on Patients
The strike suspension will come as a relief to patients, as previous walkouts had led to thousands of cancelled appointments and operations. NHS England had warned that further strikes would put immense pressure on an already strained health service.
However, the BMA emphasized that the dispute is not fully resolved until members vote. Ballot papers will be sent out next week, with results expected within a month.
If accepted, the deal would end a long-running dispute that has seen multiple strikes since 2023, causing significant disruption to the NHS.
