UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – NHS cancels key cancer operations during BMA strike, officials claim union demands “extortionate” pay for doctors covering absent consultants.
As reported by The Independent, ongoing strike action has led to the cancellation of vital cancer surgeries, amid claims that the union is demanding excessive pay to return to duty.
Hospitals struggled to protect vital cancer care this week. The five-day strike, ending Wednesday, involved thousands of junior doctors walking out over pay.
What did NHS Chief Jim Mackey warn in his letter to staff?
Sir Jim Mackey, head of NHS England, said in a letter to staff on Tuesday that patients were harmed when emergency cases were prioritised over planned care during the past strikes. His comments came as the current walkout continued.
He alleged that the British Medical Association had asked for high pay for striking doctors to return and assist with patient safety.
In his letter to staff, Mr Mackey wrote,
“It has been incredibly impressive to see and hear how hundreds of thousands of staff, including many resident doctors, have pulled together to manage the disruption, protect patients, and ensure the NHS has remained open for care. We have learned from the last few rounds of industrial action that harm was being caused to patients by the BMA insisting on just prioritising urgent and emergency care.”
He stated,
“We have all worked hard to avoid that this time, and while there is still some distance to go, the early indications suggest that the planning has worked. That is not to say that services haven’t come under real pressure. We have worked with you to overhaul the process for patient safety mitigations (PSMs), and that has yielded results as well, with nine approved as of Sunday night.”
Mr Mackey added,
“Unfortunately, despite all requests being made and verified by senior medics, 18 have been rejected by the BMA, with half of those rejections saying the BMA would support only if extortionate pay rates were offered to striking doctors.”
He claimed that several resident doctors returned to work during the strike, and some staff members volunteered to cover the gaps.
Junior doctors’ strike over pay increase
According to the BMA, hospitals put patients at risk by continuing routine care instead of prioritising emergency treatment.
A five-day strike by junior doctors began on Friday, 25 July, after the BMA rejected a proposed 5.4% pay rise for 2025–26.
In response, doctors have urged a 29% pay rise, citing a 20.9% real-terms fall in earnings since 2008, according to the BMA.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the government would not reconsider pay, claiming doctors have already received a 28% rise since Labour took office.
NHS England urged hospitals to keep routine care running, warning of risks to patients from disruption during past strikes in 2023 and 2024.
For 2025, the BMA recommends consultants be paid £188 for weekday day shifts, £250 for evenings and weekends, and £313 for overnight duties.
How did the NHS respond to BMA delays in emergency staffing?
An NHS spokesperson stated,
“Derogation requests for resident doctors to work in exceptional circumstances are being made by the most senior clinical teams on the ground, and delays or refusals by the British Medical Association question their integrity and risk patient safety.”
What did Wes Streeting say about doctors who didn’t strike?
Wes Streeting said,
“I want to thank staff across the NHS for the massive shift they’ve put in this weekend to minimise the disruption to patients.”
He stated,
“I particularly want to thank resident doctors who didn’t take part in these strikes and went into work to help their colleagues and patients.”
Mr Streeting added,
“We will continue to work with staff from the frontline to the command centre to reduce the impact on patients of these completely unnecessary strikes.”