Health secretary accuses doctors’ union of ‘cartel-like behaviour’ and tells it to ‘get real’ over pay demands
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The British Medical Association is acting like a cartel and its “antics” are endangering the NHS’s future, the health secretary has said before the latest doctors’ strike begins on Friday.
Wes Streeting launched his most strongly worded attack yet on the doctors’ union, coming close to accusing resident doctors in England of being greedy in their pay demands.
He told the BMA to “get real”, made clear that ministers would not be “held to ransom” and claimed the association wanted other workers to pay higher taxes to give doctors higher salaries but lobbied against medics being taxed more themselves.
