Swinney welcomes talks with BMA ahead of planned doctors’ strike

John Swinney has welcomed talks with the doctors’ union ahead of a strike planned for January, but said the government faces “very tight financial constraints”.

Some 92% of Scottish resident doctors voted to strike in the ballot by the British Medical Association (BMA) Scotland, out of a 58% turnout.

Strikes are planned from 7am on January 13, to 7am on Saturday January 17.

Mr Swinney welcomed talks with the BMA while visiting Royal Children’s Hospital in Glasgow, where he met staff and families supported by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Hospital at Home service.

The SNP leader said he wanted to “make sure we avoid industrial action”, and the Scottish Government would “contribute to the discussions in good faith”.

Health secretary Neil Gray met with the BMA on Monday morning, in talks praised as “constructive” by the medics’ union.

Mr Swinney said: “I welcome the discussions that have taken place this morning between the Health Secretary and the resident doctors, and the fact we are going to have more discussions next week.

“That is the way to try and resolve these issues.

“The government entered into an agreement in 2023 which it has fulfilled with the resident doctors and over a four-year period by 2027, resident doctors’ pay will have increased by 35% which fulfils the terms of the agreement we reached in 2023, so the government has been absolutely committed to that agreement.

“I want to make sure we deliver on that and I want to make sure we avoid industrial action, and the government will contribute to discussions in good faith to try to do so.

“The government’s got to operate within the very tight financial constraints in which we are operating.

“Over a period of four years, the pay of resident doctors will increase by 35% which fulfils that agreement.

“We’ll continue to talk, and continue to find a way through this. I want to avoid industrial action because it won’t serve anybody’s interests.”

Asked his if there is any more money available, he said: “The government’s got to operate in the very tight financial constraints in which we are operating.

“We have set out the offer we can make. That is consistent with the 2023 approach to pay and conditions for resident doctors that was agreed at the time.”

The First Minister spoke during a visit to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow on Monday.

He met with patients and staff involved in the paediatric Hospital at Home service, which provides hospital-level care for child patients at home.

Dr Chris Smith, chair of Scottish resident doctors committee (SRDC) said: “We have held useful talks with Neil Gray and the Scottish Government today and we welcome the constructive approach adopted.

“Further negotiations are now planned, which is crucial as we clearly need considerable and urgent progress if we are to avoid strikes which resident doctors in Scotland voted for overwhelming in the ballot that closed last week.”

Health secretary Neil Gray said: “I am grateful to BMA Scotland for further discussions today.

“I am pleased to confirm the Scottish Government and BMA will hold further talks next week where I hope we can progress towards reaching an agreement to avert strike action, which is in nobody’s interest.

“It is my belief that the Scottish Government has stayed true to the 2023 agreement, which I remain committed to. Since then we have made significant progress towards tackling pay erosion, with a 35% cumulative pay raise from 2022 to 2027.”