The doctors’ union claimed the Health Secretary had acted in a “cruel and calculated” way and described a Government offer intended to avert walkouts in the coming days as “poor”. The Government has insisted a further pay increase is off the negotiating table after resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, received pay rises totalling nearly 30% in the past three years. Mr Streeting earlier said the health service is facing “probably the worst pressure” since Covid and urged resident doctors to accept the deal. “He listened to resident doctors’ concerns and worked constructively to put forward an improved offer on the table that would create 4,000 more jobs, prioritise UK graduates this year, and put money back in resident doctors’ pockets. “We very much hope resident doctors will vote for it and end the Christmas strikes.”
