Following a constructive Tuesday 5th August meeting with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, BMA resident doctors committee co-chairs Dr Ross Nieuwoudt and Dr Melissa Ryan said: 

"We met yesterday with Mr Streeting to once again reiterate what is needed to bring this dispute to an end. We were very clear about the determination of resident doctors to return to a fair level of pay.  

“Our conversation was informative and we feel that we have achieved a greater mutual understanding than in previous talks.  We have agreed a window for negotiations, which we hope the Government will use wisely. 

“We want to work with the Department for Health and Social Care to deliver on non-pay items it previously agreed to, and to forge mutual respect following years when the previous incumbents seemingly cared little for doctors’ pay or wellbeing. We are clear, though, that going forward there has to be movement on pay. 

“We also reminded Mr Streeting of the urgent need to provide enough jobs for doctors and bring an end to the current situation where thousands of resident doctors apply for far too few roles, leaving many unable to progress their careers and go on to be our future consultants, GPs and other specialist doctors.    

"We are working to ensure strike action does not need to be repeated and will give time to explore solutions. However, doctors and patients both deserve a resolution sooner rather than later.”

 

Notes to editors