Source: Politics | The Guardian
Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting has urged junior doctors to call off their planned strike, warning that a prolonged walkout would harm patients, undermine the NHS and damage doctors themselves. He acknowledges the immense pressures facing NHS staff but says escalating industrial action risks alienating public support at a delicate moment for the health service.
In an opinion piece, Streeting argues that the British Medical Association’s current strategy of indefinite strike days is counterproductive. He suggests that both the government and doctors must compromise to reach a settlement that delivers fair pay without disrupting patient care. With waiting lists at record levels and hospitals struggling to recover from the pandemic, he believes doctors should return to the negotiating table rather than prolong the dispute.
Streeting writes that securing sustainable funding and reforms for the NHS requires public backing, which could erode if vital services are repeatedly cancelled. He calls for improved pay and conditions for medical staff but insists these goals must be pursued in a way that protects patients. For more context, read Guardian’s comment pages
the BBC’s coverage of the dispute.
