Next week’s strike by resident doctors in England may be averted after ministers offered the British Medical Association a fresh deal.
The doctors’ union has agreed to put the offer to members over the coming days – if they support it, the five-day walkout starting on Wednesday 17 December could be called off.
The offer includes a rapid expansion of specialist training posts as well as covering out-of-pocket expenses such as exam fees.
But it does not include any promises of extra pay. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has been adamant he will not negotiate on that, given resident doctors – the new name for junior doctors – have had pay rises of nearly 30% over the past three years.
