Doctors' strike during flu crisis 'beyond belief' - PM

Keir Starmer has said it is "frankly beyond belief" that resident doctors would strike during the NHS's worst moment since the pandemic, in remarks that risk inflaming tensions with medics.

- Rowena Mason, Andrew Gregory

Writing for the Guardian, the prime minister made an outspoken attack on the strikes planned for 17-22 December, accusing doctors of placing "the NHS and patients who need it in grave danger".

Starmer's intervention comes a day after the health secretary, Wes Streeting, argued the strikes could overwhelm the NHS, while flu numbers are soaring, ramping up pressure on resident doctors to accept his offer of more training places, but no extra money.

The BMA has said the government's offer will not fix the workforce crisis, with the deputy chair of its resident doctors' committee, Dr Shivam Sharma, saying he found it "difficult to see members accepting this offer". An indicative online ballot of resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, is due to close on Monday morning.

"I am a Labour prime minister, who believes in workers' right to strike," said Starmer. "But let's be clear when it comes to the strikes planned by resident doctors next week. They should not happen. They are reckless."

The prime minister added: "Right now, resident doctors' colleagues will be cancelling operations, cancelling their Christmas leave and preparing for this coming storm.

"The idea that strikes could still take place in this context is frankly beyond belief."

With the NHS saying it is facing a "worst-case scenario" with an unprecedented wave of super-flu, Streeting, the heath secretary, has warned the strike could be the Jenga piece that causes it to collapse.