Health Secretary Wes Streeting has expressed significant anxiety about the National Health Service's ability to recover following the latest round of industrial action by junior doctors, despite stating the health service is currently managing.
Strike Action and Government Concerns
Junior doctors commenced a fresh strike on Wednesday, 21 December 2025, after members of the British Medical Association (BMA) voted to reject a new government offer. While assessing the immediate impact, Mr Streeting told The Observer that the NHS is coping with the ongoing walkout. However, his primary worry lies in the aftermath.
"The period that worries me more is the post-strike period when we have to try and recover the service," the Health Secretary admitted. He highlighted that this recovery phase will coincide with the NHS's traditionally busiest time of the year, compounding the challenge for hospitals and clinics across the country.
Post-Strike Challenges and Negotiation Hopes
The resident doctors are scheduled to return to work at 7am on Monday. Mr Streeting, who on Friday reiterated his desire to end the protracted dispute, confirmed plans to reconvene talks in the new year. He stressed his responsibility to the entire NHS workforce, not just one group.
"I don't think that doctors are selfish and don't care about nurses and other healthcare professionals, but the BMA's position can be quite hardline and uncompromising," he stated, framing the negotiation difficulties. He insisted he maintains the "absolute support" of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and dismissed rumours of any leadership pact with former deputy PM Angela Rayner as bearing "no resemblance to reality."
Broader Economic Context and EU Relations
The interview also touched on wider economic pressures facing the government. Following November's Budget, which introduced tax rises totalling £26 billion, Streeting confessed to feeling "really uncomfortable with the level of taxation." He attributed part of the economic strain to the "massive economic hit" resulting from the UK's departure from the European Union.
Looking for solutions, the Health Secretary pointed towards fostering a deeper trading relationship with the EU as the best route to stimulate growth. He was careful to add a caveat, asserting that any new partnership must not lead to a return of freedom of movement, a key Brexit tenet for the government.
