Doctors accuse Streeting of ‘scaremongering’ on strikes

BMA denies that action could push NHS towards collapse

- DAVID MADDOX

Doctors’ representatives have accused Wes Streeting of “scaremongering” after he warned that strikes before Christmas could push the NHS to collapse as it grapples with an outbreak of flu.

In an indication that they plan to press on with devastating strike action, the British Medical Association (BMA) 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”.

Mr Streeting had said in a broadcast round on Friday that he “could not guarantee patients would not come to harm” if resident doctors went ahead with their plan to go on strike in the middle of a major outbreak of flu. He had offered to extend their mandate for strike action to allow doctors to go on strike in the new year instead, but this had fallen on deaf ears.

Instead, the BMA, which is pushing for an eyewatering 29 per cent pay rise for its members, appears to be ready to heap pressure on the NHS as it faces a crisis.

Strikes will take place for five consecutive days from 7am on 17 December, unless resident doctors who are members of the union vote in favour of the deal.