This unnecessary doctors’ strike will hurt patients, the NHS and doctors themselves. Pull back: don’t do it | Wes Streeting

The news article discusses the ongoing dispute between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the UK government over NHS staff pay and working conditions. The author, Wes Streeting, who is the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, argues that the BMA's refusal to engage with the government and its decision to take industrial action will harm patients, the NHS, and doctors themselves. Streeting acknowledges the challenges NHS staff have faced over the past 15 years, including being overstretched and demoralized. He states that one of his first actions as Health Secretary was to negotiate above-inflation pay rises for NHS staff, including a 22.3% increase for junior doctors. However, the BMA is now refusing to engage with the government, and Streeting believes that the proposed strike action will undermine the entire trade union movement. The article suggests that the government has made efforts to address the concerns of NHS staff, and it urges the BMA to reconsider its stance and engage in constructive dialogue with the government, rather than resorting to industrial action that could further harm the healthcare system and its patients.