UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Health Secretary Wes Streeting warned the NHS is coping during the resident doctors’ strike but highlighted worries about recovery once services resume.
As reported by Rob Freeman of The Independent, Wes Streeting acknowledged the NHS is managing during the resident doctors’ strike but expressed concern about the coming period.
Resident doctors walked out on Wednesday, 17 December, after the British Medical Association rejected the government’s fresh proposal.
What did Wes Streeting say about NHS recovery and the doctors’ strike?
Commenting on the NHS recovery after the resident doctors’ strike, Wes Streeting said,
“I think the NHS is coping. The period that worries me more is the post-strike period when we have to try and recover the service. That now falls at a time of year which is the NHS’s busiest.”
Earlier this week, he confirmed plans to resolve the dispute and will meet with staff again in the new year, while underlining his responsibility to all NHS workers.
Mr Streeting stated,
“I don’t think that doctors are selfish and don’t care about nurses and other healthcare professionals, but the BMA’s position can be quite hardline and uncompromising.”
The Health Secretary affirmed his “absolute support” for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and rejected claims of any leadership discussions with former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
He said,
“I’ve been reading some of the stuff recently and thinking this just bears no resemblance to reality. The closer I see that job and the pressure on Keir and the demands of that job, the more I wonder why anyone would want it.”
Following the 26 November Budget raised taxes by £26 billion, Mr Streeting described the taxation level as “really uncomfortable” and warned the country suffered a “massive economic hit” after Brexit.
He argued that a stronger trading partnership with the EU is essential for growth, but insisted it must not restore freedom of movement.
The Health Secretary added,
“The best way for us to get more growth into our economy is a deeper trading relationship with the EU.”
What did Sir Keir Starmer say about the resident doctors’ strike and the BMA?
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer condemned the resident doctors’ strike as “irresponsible,” saying he is “very gutted” that medics voted to proceed and calling on BMA members to oppose the union’s action.
He said,
“It’s irresponsible at any time, particularly at the moment. It comes on the back of a very substantial pay increase in the last year or so. There’s a deal that we’ve put on the table that could have been taken forward, and so I think it’s irresponsible action by the BMA, and not for the first time.”
The Prime Minister claimed that resident doctors’ industrial action has lost public and NHS staff support over their strike action.
He continued,
“I’d appeal to the doctors themselves to push back against the BMA. In relation to this, they are losing ground in terms of the sympathy they might otherwise have had for the difficult job that they do.”
Why are resident doctors striking?
Resident doctors in the UK continue to strike primarily over long-standing disputes regarding pay restoration and a worsening jobs crisis within the NHS.
The BMA posted on X,
“We’re asking for fair pay. We’re asking for job stability. Laura is one of thousands of doctors out on strike today, waiting for a credible offer from @wesstreeting.”
“We’re asking for fair pay. We’re asking for job stability.”
— Resident Doctors (@BMAResidents) December 18, 2025
Laura is one of thousands of doctors out on strike today, waiting for a credible offer from @wesstreeting pic.twitter.com/43zvYXm52I
The union argues that resident doctors’ pay has fallen by approximately 20% to 26% in real terms since 2008 due to years of below-inflation rises. Doctors are demanding “full pay restoration” to return salaries to their 2008/09 value.
The government has offered various deals, including a 22% pay rise over 2023–25 and promises to add 4,000 specialty training posts by 2028.
The BMA rejected the latest offer, with 83% of members voting to continue industrial action because the offer did not include new pay terms or a long-term roadmap for pay restoration.
Resident doctors in England completed their 14th walkout since the dispute began, a five-day strike from December 17 to December 22, 2025.
