Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has urged resident doctors to abandon planned industrial action next week, warning that strikes during a rapidly escalating flu outbreak would place the NHS and patients in serious danger. He described the prospect of walkouts as “reckless” and said it was “beyond belief” they could proceed while hospitals face mounting winter pressures.
Sir Keir said the NHS is experiencing its most fragile period since the Covid-19 pandemic, with flu admissions rising sharply across the UK. He warned that a five-day strike would deepen strain on emergency services, worsen waiting times, and risk patient safety at a critical moment for the health system.
Doctors’ Union Polls Members on Strike Suspension
The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents resident doctors formerly known as junior doctors, is currently polling members on whether to suspend the strike. Results are expected on Monday. If members vote against the government’s proposal, industrial action is scheduled to begin on Wednesday 17 December and continue for five days.
A BMA spokesperson said the dispute could still be resolved if ministers address pay, working conditions, and trust through a credible and improved offer. The union maintains that years of real-terms pay erosion and limited career progression opportunities remain at the heart of the conflict.
Flu Admissions Reach Record Seasonal Levels
The warning comes amid a sharp rise in flu cases across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. NHS England said an average of 2,660 flu patients were hospitalised each day last week in England alone, the highest level ever recorded for this point in the winter season and a 55% increase on the previous week.
Health experts say the early and rapid spread of flu this year is linked to a mutated strain circulating widely. While some have labelled it “super flu”, specialists stress it is not more severe or harder to treat than previous strains. Children and young people are among the worst affected, placing added pressure on paediatric and emergency departments.
Government Urges Delay Until After Christmas
Writing in the Guardian, Sir Keir said the strikes “should not happen” and called on doctors to accept the government’s latest proposal. He confirmed ministers had offered to postpone the walkout until after Christmas to allow further negotiations.
He said the government had made a renewed effort to protect the NHS, adding that while cancellation would be preferable, officials wanted to ensure every option had been explored to avoid disruption during a public health surge.
The proposed deal includes measures to support doctors struggling to secure employment after qualification and plans to expand training posts to improve career progression within the NHS workforce.
Streeting and NHS Leaders Issue Mixed Warnings
Health Secretary Wes Streeting echoed the prime minister’s concerns, warning that the combination of strikes and rising flu admissions would create a “double whammy” for the NHS at the peak of winter demand.
However, NHS London medical director Chris Streather struck a more cautious tone, saying flu levels remain within the NHS’s capacity and that hospitals are better prepared for disease outbreaks following lessons learned during the Covid pandemic. He said resilience planning and surge protocols are already in place across the capital.
Long-Running NHS Pay Dispute
Resident doctors have staged repeated strikes over the past two years, arguing that pay has fallen significantly in real terms since 2008. The dispute has become a major challenge for the Labour government, which inherited widespread NHS staffing shortages, long waiting lists, and ongoing winter capacity pressures.
With flu cases rising earlier than usual and emergency services under strain, the coming days are likely to prove critical for negotiations between ministers and doctors’ representatives.
