Streeting denies changing pay deal for resident doctors

Streeting denies changing pay deal for resident doctors13 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleOlivia IrelandPA MediaHealth Secretary Wes Streeting has told the BBC the government "categorically" did not change its deal with resident doctors to end ongoing industrial action over pay and jobs.He also said he wanted to meet the "organ grinders" from the British Medical Association (BMA) resident doctors' committee for further negotiations - but claimed they had "point blank refused". Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the committee, said in response that one or two-year settlements were discussed in negotiations and "at the very last minute" the government insisted "a three-year deal was the only option, with reduced investment".The current six-day walkout in England is set to end at 06:59 on Monday. Doctors announce six-day strike in England as talks break downStarmer gives doctors 48 hours to cancel strike or lose new jobs packageDoctors lose new jobs package as strike to go aheadIn a statement to the BBC, Fletcher also said the BMA resident doctors' committee remained "open and willing to meet with the health secretary".He added that throughout this dispute, the BMA has "negotiated in good faith with a genuine desire to reach a resolution".Streeting told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that resident doctors "had a 28.9% pay rise within the first weeks of this Labour government"."There's a deal on the table that would have given them an average 4.9% more for this year, 7.1% for some of the lowest-paid doctors."Despite receiving pay rises worth 33% over the past four years, the BMA argues that doctors are still being paid a fifth less than they were in 2008 once inflation is taken into account.Further addressing the union's accusation that the deal had been changed at the last minute, Streeting told Victoria Derbyshire, standing in for...