BMA Willing to Cancel Strikes if Government Presents Suitable Pay Offer to Junior Doctors

The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents about 45,000 junior doctors in England, has stated that its members are willing to cancel strikes if the government presents them with a suitable pay offer.

The BMA consultants committee chair, Vishal Sharma, said in a statement that the BMA remains willing to talk and is prepared to cancel strikes even at the last minute if a suitable offer is presented.

Health Minister Steve Barclay has stated that the government is willing to give doctors a bigger pay rise and has urged consultants to end strikes to resume negotiations.

The junior doctors have been staging walkouts this year to demand wage increases that match inflation, which has been running into double digits.

The government has argued that such pay rises would only inflame inflation further, pushing up interest rates and mortgages.

The BMA has said the latest pay offer of a 5% increase for 2023/24 is not credible since it does not address pay erosion over the last 15 years.