Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministerial Statement

Resident Doctors Industrial Action 2025-07-10

10 July 2025 · 15 other contributors

Opened by The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting

NHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care raised concerns about resident doctors industrial action 2025-07-10 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Minister states NHS waiting lists are decreasing after 14 years of decline.
  • Since July, NHS has cut waiting lists by 260,000 and delivered over 4.6 million more appointments than promised.
  • Last year, resident doctors received a 28.9% pay rise, described as generous compared to previous years.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Government Statement

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

Today, the NHS is moving in the right direction with waiting lists decreasing after 14 years of decline. Since July, we have cut waiting lists by 260,000 and delivered over 4.6 million more appointments than promised. A 28.9% pay rise was given to resident doctors last year, which is generous compared to previous years. The BMA announced five days of strike action from 7 am on Friday 25 July to 7 am on Wednesday 30 July, but these strikes are unnecessary and unreasonable. I have offered repeatedly to meet the full resident doctors committee since January, yet no progress was made due to their unwillingness to talk. The NHS faces a £1.7 billion cost from previous strikes, resulting in cancelled operations and appointments. This Government has changed its approach by working with resident doctors and delivering significant pay rises, but the BMA's tactics have not. Resident doctors received the highest public sector pay award both this year and last year. I am willing to work together to improve their conditions without preconditions attached.

Other contributors (15)
  • Edward Argar Con Melton and Syston

    Question

    Will the Secretary of State enlarge on the additional steps that he is taking to seek to resolve the industrial dispute and prevent the strike action from going ahead? I heard what he said about his willingness to talk. Does he anticipate further meetings before strikes start on 25 July, and does he anticipate a risk of any other parts of the NHS workforce balloting for strike action?

    Minister reply

    I am willing and ready to get around the table and work together with the BMA to improve the working conditions of resident doctors without preconditions. There are no guarantees that further meetings will take place before strikes start on 25 July, but I remain open to dialogue. Regarding other parts of the NHS workforce balloting for strike action, there is a risk as seen in previous years.

  • Alex McIntyre Lab Gloucester

    Question

    Does the Secretary of State agree that strike action by the BMA will put at risk the progress made in reducing NHS waiting lists?

    Minister reply

    I completely agree with my hon. Friend. Strike action is unreasonable and deeply unfair, considering the significant progress we have already made together.

  • Alison Bennett LD Mid Sussex

    Question

    Will the Secretary of State commit to ending corridor care to improve staff morale in the NHS?

    Minister reply

    I can reassure her that this Government will begin transparently publishing data on corridor care, showing the number of patients being treated on trolleys in corridors. Sunlight is the best disinfectant and we will hold ourselves accountable to ensure conditions improve.

  • Warinder Juss Lab Wolverhampton West

    Question

    Does my right hon. Friend agree that we were right to settle the strikes last year, for the sake of ensuring the future of the NHS, protecting the interests of the public and showing our doctors that they are valued?

    Minister reply

    I strongly agree with my hon. Friend—there is no historical precedent in British trade unionism for a trade union to have successfully negotiated a significant pay increase and then go out on strike.

  • Edward Leigh Con Gainsborough

    Question

    We can all argue about the past, but if it helps the Secretary of State, I think we should just say today that the whole House absolutely 100% supports him in his robust attitude.

    Minister reply

    First, I think that the right hon. Member’s opening statement and the response across the House underline to the BMA and the resident doctors committee that they do not have support across this House—from the left across to the right.

  • Emma Foody Lab/Co-op Cramlington and Killingworth

    Question

    Can he share the impact that this will have on the system? For example, can he guarantee that the cost of these strikes will not lead to job cuts?

    Minister reply

    In all honesty, I am afraid I cannot give my hon. Friend that assurance. NHS finances are precariously balanced and every penny spent on strike action is a penny that could have been spent on driving improvements in the service.

  • John Hayes Con South Holland and The Deepings

    Question

    Will he ensure that this unhappy, unwholesome and unhealthy action does not jeopardise the health of my constituents?

    Minister reply

    I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his question and assure him that we are taking every step possible to mitigate the disruption that these strikes will cause.

  • Lewis Atkinson Lab Sunderland Central

    Question

    Does the Secretary of State agree that it is therefore essential that all NHS staff groups have confidence that their pay is being set fairly, and that going beyond the independent pay review body’s recommendations for one set of staff would undermine the “one NHS” team ethos?

    Minister reply

    I strongly agree with what my hon. Friend says. I am personally invested in our relationship with resident doctors and have a huge amount of support and sympathy for them, but we need to maintain an 'NHS fit for the future' which requires the whole workforce to pull together.

  • Robin Swann UUP South Antrim

    Question

    What engagement has he had with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations regarding the proposed industrial action?

    Minister reply

    I will engage with my counterparts in the devolved Administrations to address the impact of decisions made here on other health systems, and vice versa.

  • Connor Rand Lab Altrincham and Sale West

    Question

    Will he join me in urging the BMA resident doctors committee to engage in serious talks?

    Minister reply

    I met with the co-chairs of the BMA resident doctors committee on Tuesday afternoon, reaffirming our willingness to meet immediately without preconditions to avert the strikes.

  • Andrew Snowden Con Fylde

    Question

    Pleas with the Secretary of State to hold the line in these negotiations and not give in to the BMA's demands.

    Minister reply

    We cannot afford to reopen this year’s pay award as it would be unfair on others in the NHS workforce. The significant progress made last year was due to our willingness to work together, which should continue.

  • Jas Athwal Lab Ilford South

    Question

    Does he agree that the public are dismayed by the actions of the BMA and distraught at the prospect of unnecessary strikes?

    Minister reply

    I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. Patients will suffer the most, and I urge the BMA to consider the impact on their whole membership and other staff who will pick up the pieces.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Question

    Does he agree that reviewing conditions of work such as working hours would be helpful in addressing doctors' concerns?

    Minister reply

    Pay is important, but so are working conditions. We are determined to work with resident doctors on both pay and conditions, which should not be grounds for strike action.

  • Anna Dixon Lab Shipley

    Question

    Does he agree that this is no time for strike action as it will adversely affect patients and waiting times?

    Minister reply

    I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. The proposed strikes are unreasonable, unnecessary, and unfair; the House has spoken with one voice against these strikes.

Shadow Comment

Edward Argar

The Government was warned that caving into union demands for above-inflation pay rises would set a dangerous precedent, which is now being realised. The BMA's strike action supported by less than 50% of eligible voters is irresponsible, wrong, and unnecessary. The public is concerned about the impact on NHS services during this industrial dispute. We are asking what additional steps the Government will take to resolve the dispute and prevent strike action from going ahead.

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