Resident doctors in England have called off planned strikes after the government presented a new offer, the British Medical Association (BMA) announced. The BMA will now present this offer to its members for a vote.
The walkout had been scheduled to begin Monday, June 15, and run through Friday, June 19. It marked the latest development in a long-standing dispute over pay.
Health Secretary James Murray described the new offer as an opportunity to "draw a line under the damaging disputes of recent years." The BMA stated that the government had shifted its position, allowing the union to uphold its end of the bargain.
Negotiations between the two sides intensified in the days leading up to the strike's cancellation, including discussions held on Saturday. Despite the agreement to halt the strike, some patient disruption is still anticipated over the coming week. NHS England indicated that while 95% of operations and appointments were originally planned to proceed, thousands have been postponed, and reinstating them will pose a challenge for hospitals.
Sources within the government suggested that the offer does not include additional funding for the current year but proposes accelerated increases in pay scales for the following year. The offer also includes a commitment to create 4,500 extra training positions for newly qualified doctors and to cover doctors' examination fees.
Resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, have received pay increases totaling 33% over the past four years, including a 3.5% raise this year. This has brought starting salaries to just over £40,000, with the highest-earning resident doctors receiving a basic pay of £76,500. Additional earnings are possible through unsociable hours and extra shifts.
However, the BMA contends that when adjusted for inflation, doctors' pay is still 20% lower than it was in 2008.