Junior doctors have warned Sir Keir Starmer that they could cripple the NHS with strikes this winter if Labour does not agree to a 35 per cent pay rise.
The co-leaders of the British Medical Association (BMA) said they would not rule out industrial action continuing if their demands for what they term “pay restoration” are met.
The long-running junior doctors’ dispute has caused the cancellation of more than one million NHS appointments and hamstrung Rishi Sunak’s attempts to bring down waiting lists.
Thousands of junior doctors will walk out on a five-day strike from June 27 to July 2, two days before the election, in what is the 11th round of junior doctor strikes since March last year.
The BMA will have to re-ballot its members in September to secure another six-month mandate for strikes until March 2025.
Dr Robert Laurenson, the co-chairman of its junior doctors’ committee, told The Times that winter strike action was being considered.
“It really depends on how the next negotiation goes,” Dr Laurenson said. “I don’t think we can rule that out. If we need another mandate, we’ll have to get another mandate.”
‘Patients can’t take any more’
Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, warned in response that “patients can’t take any more” and that the BMA should “prepare to negotiate with a Labour government”.
He has previously said Labour will not meet the junior doctors’ demand for a 35 per cent pay rise.
“The BMA should call off the strikes next week and prepare to negotiate with a Labour government,” Mr Streeting said.
“If Labour is elected, the junior doctors will be one of my first calls on July 5, and we will get talks up and running as quickly as possible to bring an end to this disruption.”
Labour has promised to slash waiting lists if it wins the general election, an ambition that will be harder to achieve if the strikes continue.
Mr Laurenson added that the pay rise demand could be met over time rather than in an instant.
“What we’ve heard [from Labour] is that it’s not an event, it’s a journey,” he said.
“And I think that’s really sensible. We look forward to starting those discussions, as and when whoever’s in power wants to have those discussions.”
Victoria Atkins, the Health Secretary, said the Conservatives would “get back into the negotiating room immediately” if Mr Sunak wins on July 4.
Source Agencies
