Junior doctors’ leaders have become the latest union to agree to suspend industrial action and accept an offer of pay talks with the Government.
The Department of Health and Social Care said the British Medical Association had agreed to enter negotiations on the same terms as unions representing nurses, ambulance staff and other NHS workers in talks which concluded this week.
“We deeply regret that over 175,000 appointments and procedures were cancelled this week, despite our offer to start formal talks on the condition strikes were paused,” a DHSC spokesman said.
We want to find a fair settlement which recognises the crucial role of junior doctors and the wider economic pressures facing the UK— DHSC
“However we are pleased the BMA has now accepted our offer to enter talks based on the same terms as with the agenda for change unions – which concluded positively this week.
“We want to find a fair settlement which recognises the crucial role of junior doctors and the wider economic pressures facing the UK, as we have done with other unions.”
The move follows a three-day walkout by junior doctors in support of their demand for a 35% pay increase – a claim ministers have said is unaffordable.
