Doctors And Government Clash Over NHS Strikes Amid Flu Surge

The National Health Service (NHS) in England is bracing itself for a turbulent week as the British Medical Association (BMA) and government officials clash over looming resident doctor strikes amid an unprecedented surge in flu cases. The dispute, which has dominated headlines across the UK, centers on accusations of "scaremongering," pay demands, and concerns about patient safety as winter illnesses put immense pressure on hospitals.

On December 13, 2025, the BMA—representing tens of thousands of resident doctors, previously known as junior doctors—issued a stern warning against what it called public "scaremongering" over the current flu outbreak. This statement came as the union’s members were being polled on whether to proceed with a planned five-day strike in England, scheduled to begin at 7am on December 17 unless an 11th-hour deal is reached.

The government, led by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, has voiced deep concern about the "double whammy" of rising flu hospitalizations and the prospect of resident doctors walking out during the NHS’s busiest season. Streeting told LBC earlier in the week, "The current situation is probably the worst pressure the NHS has faced since Covid." He added that strikes could be "the Jenga piece that collapses the tower," a metaphor that has since echoed through government and media commentary.

Streeting’s remarks have not gone unchallenged. In a statement released on Saturday, Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, said, "It is horrible for anyone to be suffering with flu, we are not diminishing the impact of that, but Mr Streeting should not be scaremongering the public into thinking that the NHS will not be able to look after them and their loved ones." The BMA has repeatedly accused the health secretary of "laying the blame for the failings of the NHS to cope with an outbreak of flu at the feet of resident doctors," rather than addressing systemic issues or coming to the negotiating table in good faith.

At the heart of the dispute is pay. The BMA is pushing for a 29% pay rise for its members, arguing that real-terms pay has declined by about 20% over the last 17 years. The government, however, has ruled out further increases, pointing to nearly 30% in pay rises for resident doctors over the past three years. Sir Keir Starmer, writing in The Guardian, noted, "Pay for resident doctors has increased by 28.9% over the past three years." The latest government offer, described as "poor" by the BMA, includes legislation to prioritize British medical graduates for specialty training jobs starting in 2026 and to cover training expenses such as exam fees, but crucially, it does not include a pay rise.

The union’s frustration is palpable. Dr Fletcher argued, "What is cruel and calculated is the way in which the health secretary fails to have any engagement with us outside strikes and then comes to us with an offer he knows is poor and expects us to just accept it within 24 hours." The BMA has also written to NHS Trust chief executives, acknowledging that in the event of a strike, resident doctors may be required to return to work to "maintain safe patient care." As Dr Tom Dolphin, chair of the BMA council, put it, "As doctors, we at the BMA wish to ensure that patients remain safe." He further explained that hospitals have previously managed strike days by redeploying senior doctors to cover for absent resident doctors, postponing non-urgent care if necessary.

Yet not everyone is convinced these measures will suffice. Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, warned that the "tidal wave of flu" means the NHS needs "all hands on deck to look after a huge number of patients." Dr Jeanette Dickson, chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, echoed those concerns, noting, "There are 10 times more patients in hospital beds with flu than there were at the same time two years ago."

The backdrop to this industrial dispute is a particularly harsh flu season. According to NHS England, an average of 2,660 patients per day were hospitalized with flu last week—a 55% jump from the previous week and the highest for this time of year since records began in 2021. While some have labeled the circulating strain "super flu," medical experts emphasize that it is not more severe or harder to treat than previous strains. Flu cases are also climbing in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, adding to the strain on the UK’s healthcare infrastructure.

Despite these alarming numbers, NHS London medical director Chris Streather offered some reassurance, stating that the situation is "well within the boundaries" of what the NHS can handle and that hospitals are better prepared for large-scale outbreaks since the Covid pandemic. "Speculation is probably not helpful and can cause people to worry," Streather said, urging calm amidst the heated rhetoric.

Public opinion, meanwhile, appears to be shifting against the strikes. A recent YouGov survey showed that 58% of respondents either somewhat or strongly oppose the industrial action, while only 33% somewhat or strongly support it. The government has seized on this sentiment, with Prime Minister Starmer calling the strikes "reckless" and "beyond belief" as the NHS faces what he described as its "most precarious moment since the pandemic." In his own words, "Don’t get me wrong – of course I would rather they were cancelled... But under the circumstances, I wanted to be sure we have left no stone unturned in our efforts to protect the NHS."

Ministers have offered the BMA the chance to defer strikes until after Christmas, but the union has so far rejected this, arguing that the government is not engaging in meaningful negotiations. The BMA’s online poll of its members is set to close on Monday, December 15, just two days before the planned industrial action. If members vote to accept the government’s offer, a formal referendum will follow and the strikes could be called off. If not, England will see five consecutive days of disruption at a time when hospitals are already stretched to the limit.

As the clock ticks down, both sides remain entrenched. The government insists its offer is "unprecedented" and that further pay rises are not on the table, while the BMA continues to insist that the health secretary’s approach is "utterly irresponsible" and that patient safety remains paramount. With flu cases still rising and the NHS under immense strain, the coming week could prove decisive—not just for the outcome of this dispute, but for the health and confidence of the nation.

For now, patients, doctors, and politicians alike are left anxiously awaiting the result of the BMA ballot, knowing that the stakes—both for public health and for the future of the NHS—have rarely been higher.