Strikes by senior doctors will “scupper” Rishi Sunak’s pledge to bring down waiting lists, NHS chiefs fear.
Thousands of consultants are threatening to walk out next month in the same week as junior doctors hold a five-day strike, leading to warnings that the NHS will be left in a “complete mess”.
Steve Barclay, the health secretary, is said to be very keen to resolve the dispute with a higher pay offer of about 6 per cent and is more hopeful of a deal with consultants, who are seen in the NHS as more pragmatic than junior doctors’ leaders.
The British Medical Association (BMA) consultants’ committee is also asking for a 35 per cent rise, but has been less hardline about the figure than junior doctors.
