Officials fear NHS will be hit hard after resident doctors reject latest offer

Resident doctors in England have rejected the government's latest offer in a long-standing pay and jobs dispute, leading to a planned five-day strike starting Wednesday. The strike, the 14th since March 2023, has prompted the cancellation of approximately 38,500 outpatient appointments and treatments, raising concerns about the NHS's ability to cope with winter pressures. NHS officials fear hospitals will be more severely impacted than in previous strikes, potentially hindering their ability to provide planned care. The Patients Association is urging both the government and the British Medical Association (BMA) to engage in independent arbitration to resolve the dispute and avoid further disruptions. The BMA deemed the offer "too little, too late" after resident doctors voted against the deal by 83%.

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