NHS resident doctors will strike for five days later this month, says union

Resident doctors will go on strike for five continuous days later this month in their dispute with the Government over pay, the British Medical Association (BMA) has said.

Announcing strike dates across England, the BMA said it was giving the Government two weeks to come to the table to negotiate "a path to pay restoration".

Resident doctors are scheduled to strike from 7am on July 25 to 7am on July 30.

BMA resident doctors committee co-chairs, Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt, said in a statement they had met with Health Secretary Wes Streeting but the Government would not move on pay.

It said: "We met Wes Streeting yesterday and made every attempt to avoid strike action by opening negotiations for pay restoration.

"Unfortunately, the Government has stated that it will not negotiate on pay, wanting to focus on non-pay elements without suggesting what these might be.

"Without a credible offer to keep us on the path to restore our pay, we have no choice but to call strikes.

"No doctor wants to strike, and these strikes don't have to go ahead.

"If Mr Streeting can seriously come to the table in the next two weeks we can ensure that no disruption is caused.

"The Government knows what is needed to avert strikes. The choice is theirs."

Health Secretary Wes Streeting insisted they can't go further than the five-point-four percent increase on offer.