Resident doctors in England are set to embark on a new round of strike action in June.
This follows a meeting between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Health Secretary, James Murray.
It is understood that Murray ruled out pay negotiations, describing the union’s demands for higher wages as “unrealistic and unaffordable.”
Resident doctors in England have seen pay increases of around 33% over the past four years, including a 3.5% rise this year.
Their starting salaries now stand at just over £40,000, while the most senior resident doctors earn about £76,500 in basic pay.
In addition, many doctors receive extra income for working unsociable hours and taking on additional shifts.
However, the British Medical Association (BMA) maintains that, when adjusted for inflation, doctors are still earning about 20% less than they did in 2008.
The resident doctor leader for BMA, Dr Jack Fletcher said: “We had hoped that a change in leadership at the Department of Health and Social Care would lead to a change in approach.
Expressing his displeasure, he stated: “Sadly, we have run up against the same unwillingness to move we encountered under Mr Streeting.
“We were prepared to give Mr Murray time to settle into his role before completing the work his predecessor left unfinished. He had a genuine opportunity to break this logjam with fresh energy and ambition.
“He has not taken it. Instead, we are hearing the same tired line – vagueness on new jobs and no further money on the table,” Dr Fletcher said.
“We cannot be asked to negotiate in good faith for weeks, only to be told there is nothing left to negotiate about on pay and no further details at this stage on jobs.”
In March, ministers tabled a deal for the British Medical Association (BMA) that proposed expanding training posts, speeding up career progression, and reimbursing expenses such as exam fees.
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However, the offer was turned down, and BMA members subsequently carried out a six-day strike in April.
Murray, in response to their decision said: “I’m disappointed that the BMA have refused to consider further discussions about how to strengthen the deal on the table and have instead rushed once again to unnecessary and unreasonable strike action.
He added: “I was clear with the BMA that after a 33.4% pay rise for resident doctors over the last four years – the highest anywhere across the public sector – the BMA’s demands for further substantial pay increases this year are unrealistic, unaffordable and unsustainable.”
Also a representative of The NHS Alliance, Matthew Hopkins, said the strike was “rash and wholly irresponsible” and would leave patients paying the price.
“It puts at risk the hard worn progress the health service has made in recent months in bringing down waiting lists and driving up productivity.”
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