Doctors’ Five-Day Strike Could ‘Break NHS’, Warns Wes Streeting
What happened
Resident doctors in England will launch a five-day strike from 25 July, after voting in favour through the British Medical Association (BMA). The doctors are demanding a 29% pay rise to reverse real-terms pay cuts since 2008–09, rejecting the government’s 5.4% offer.
Why it matters
The strike is expected to cancel tens of thousands of NHS operations and appointments, adding pressure to already-strained waiting lists. Health Secretary Wes Streeting warned the action could “break the NHS”, calling the system’s recovery “hanging by a thread”.
Reaction
Health leaders criticised the short notice given for the walkout, calling it disruptive and unfair to patients. The BMA argued the strike was a last resort, blaming the government’s refusal to negotiate fairly on pay.
What next
Unless talks resume quickly, the walkout will go ahead as planned, posing a serious challenge for the NHS and testing the government’s ability to balance public sector pay demands with fiscal restraint.
