Lord Winston Slams Doctor Strikes

Eminent IVF Pioneer Lord Winston Severs BMA Ties Over “Damaging” Doctor Strikes

Professor Lord Robert Winston, a towering figure in medicine, has dramatically ended his affiliation with the British Medical Association. The IVF pioneer and esteemed broadcaster ceased his 60-year membership in protest at forthcoming industrial action from resident medical practitioners. His departure sends a shockwave through a profession already grappling with immense pressure. It highlights a deep schism over the ethics and efficacy of strikes within a National Health Service at a breaking point. Lord Winston argues the walkouts betray patient trust. The BMA maintains it has no other option in its fight for fair pay.

A Lifetime in Medicine and Media

Lord Robert Winston built a formidable reputation long before his television career. He is a professor of fertility studies and a trailblazer in in-vitro fertilisation. His work gave hope to countless people. He later became a household name. Through the BBC programme Child of Our Time, he educated millions on human development. His status, which includes being a Labour peer and a trusted public intellectual, lends significant weight to his recent decision. His actions are not merely those of a dissenting doctor. They represent a stark warning from a senior statesman of science and medicine.

A Painful Departure After 60 Years

Lord Winston's connection to the BMA dates back many years. His membership had been uninterrupted since 1964. His choice to leave was therefore not taken lightly. He holds a firm conviction that this is an unsuitable moment for industrial action. He believes the nation and its populace face many struggles. He believes the industrial action shows a complete disregard for the fragile state of patients. In his view, the walkouts will cause long-term damage to the public’s faith in the medical profession, a cornerstone of the NHS.

The Heart of the Dispute: Pay Restoration

The current conflict is rooted in a long-standing pay dispute. When adjusted for inflation, resident doctors' wages have fallen significantly over the years. The calculated drop is around 20% since 2008. A 5.4% salary increase has been granted for the current financial period, yet the union considers this inadequate. This follows a cumulative raise of 22% during the preceding pair of years. The BMA's central demand is a credible roadmap to fully restore the pay lost over more than a decade of erosion against inflation.

A Summer of Disruption Begins

Resident doctors are now undertaking a full walkout. The industrial action is scheduled from 7 am on Thursday, 27 June 2024, to 7 am on Tuesday, 2 July 2024. This five-day period will see a complete withdrawal of labour from doctors in training grades across England. The timing, just before a general election, was chosen to maximise political pressure. This means the national health service faces immense disruption. Thousands of appointments and operations face cancellation as the health service braces for impact.

Government Draws a Hard Line

The government remains firm in its position. Wes Streeting, in his role as Health Secretary, described the union's move as being both needless and irrational. He strongly encouraged the union to reverse its decision. He articulated a view that the national health service is in an extremely precarious state and the industrial action could cause its collapse. The government's position has been to repeatedly refuse entry into further discussions about remuneration. It wants to focus on non-pay elements of the doctors’ contracts instead. This impasse has left both sides in a state of deadlock.

‘No Choice’ But to Strike

The committee representing resident doctors at the BMA feels it has been cornered. The co-chairs, Dr. Ross Nieuwoudt and Dr. Melissa Ryan, communicated they had no other option. Lacking a believable proposal to make progress on pay restoration, they feel a walkout is necessary. They insist that no doctor wishes to strike. They have stressed that the walkouts can be averted if the Health Secretary comes to the table with a serious proposal. The responsibility for a resolution, they maintain, rests with ministers.

The Human Cost: Waiting Lists Grow

The backdrop to this dispute is an NHS under severe strain. Waiting lists in England reached a staggering 7.62 million in June 2024. This figure represents the highest level since late 2023. The median wait for treatment after a referral is now over 14 weeks. Each day of industrial action adds to this backlog. Patient advocacy groups warn that the strikes, while aimed at the government, ultimately harm the public. Postponed procedures and delayed diagnoses have a real human cost that deepens the healthcare crisis.

A Profession’s Trust on the Line

Lord Winston’s primary concern is the erosion of trust. He has urged doctors to contemplate their responsibility to patients with greater gravity. He argues that every patient is a frightened person in pain. The decision to strike, in his opinion, damages the fundamental relationship between doctor and patient. He also questioned the mandate for the action, pointing to a voter turnout of 55% in the BMA’s ballot. This, he suggests, is hardly a decisive democratic endorsement for such a damaging course of action.

What is a Resident Doctor?

The term "resident doctor" is a recent change. It officially replaced "junior doctor" in September 2024 to better reflect the role’s seniority and skill. A resident doctor is a fully qualified medical practitioner undertaking postgraduate training. This period can last anywhere from eight to twenty years after graduating from medical school. They form the largest single group of doctors in the NHS and are the backbone of hospital care, working under the supervision of senior consultants and general practitioners.

Image Credit - Sky News

A History of NHS Industrial Action

Disputes within the NHS are not a new phenomenon. In 1975, both consultants and junior doctors took industrial action over contract changes and pay. Consultants worked to rule for six months, while junior doctors held walkouts for the first time in NHS history. More recently, in 2016, strikes were held in response to a new contract designed to facilitate a "seven-day NHS". That dispute also centred on changes to working hours and pay, showing that the current tensions are part of a recurring pattern.

The Leaky Bucket: Doctor Retention Crisis

The pay dispute intersects with a severe retention crisis. The UK is losing thousands of doctors prematurely. Between September 2022 and September 2023, up to 23,000 doctors departed from their posts within the health service in England alone. The cost of replacing them could be as high as £2.4 billion. Surveys reveal a workforce plagued by burnout, stress, and a poor work-life balance. Many doctors feel undervalued and are actively looking to leave the profession or move abroad, worsening the staffing shortages that plague the health service.

The Economic Case for Pay Restoration

Restoring pay is not just a matter of fairness. It is an essential component of tackling the workforce crisis. Years of real-terms pay cuts have devalued the profession. This makes it harder to recruit and retain doctors. With significant student debt and opportunities for better pay and conditions abroad, medicine is becoming a less attractive career in the UK. Investing in the workforce is a prerequisite for a functioning and effective health service.

The Government's Economic Counterpoint

The government’s resistance to higher pay demands is based on broader economic concerns. Ministers argue that large, inflation-matching pay rises in the public sector would fuel inflation across the economy. They have implemented a strategy of pay restraint for all public servants, not just doctors. The 5.4% offer is presented as a fair and reasonable balance. It recognises the doctors’ contribution while remaining fiscally responsible. The BMA's demands are viewed as an outlier which the nation is unable to afford.

Ensuring Patient Safety During Walkouts

During any strike, the NHS’s top priority is patient safety. Hospitals enact detailed plans to mitigate risks. They focus resources on protecting emergency and urgent care pathways. This includes services for cardiac arrests, critical care, and cancer treatments. However, this protection comes at a cost. To ensure safe staffing levels in critical areas, hospitals must reduce other activities. This leads to the widespread postponement of elective surgeries and outpatient appointments, which are then rescheduled.

The Shifting Stance of Public Opinion

Public support for the striking doctors has been volatile. At the start of the latest walkout in June 2024, a majority of Britons supported the action, with half blaming the government for the prolonged dispute. Over time, however, public sympathy appears to be waning. By July 2025, support had fallen to just 26%, with 41% of the public opposing the strikes. This shift could weaken the BMA’s negotiating position and embolden the government.

The Lure of Working Abroad

For many UK doctors, the prospect of working overseas is increasingly tempting. Countries like Australia and Canada offer not only higher salaries but also a better perceived quality of life. A significant 84% of doctors considering a move believe they would earn more in a competitor country. A consultant in the UK might earn up to £132,000, while an equivalent role in Australia could command a salary of around £177,000. This financial disparity makes it difficult for the health service to compete for talent on a global stage.

Lord Winston’s Longstanding NHS Critique

Lord Winston’s criticism is not confined to the current strikes. For many years, he has served as a vocal commentator regarding NHS policy. In the past, he has attacked what he called a "deceitful" internal market and criticised governments of all stripes for failing to fund the service properly. He believes the NHS has pockets of brilliance but is not consistently good. He has long called for a cross-party approach to reform, arguing that the health service should not be a political football. His resignation is consistent with these deeply held convictions.

The Path Forward: A System in Crisis

The resignation of Lord Winston is a symbol of a health service in profound crisis. The dispute between the BMA and the government is about more than just pay. It encompasses the immense pressures on the workforce, the growing backlog of care, and fundamental questions about the future of the NHS. With both sides entrenched, and with public patience wearing thin, a resolution seems distant. Whoever is tasked with running the health service faces the monumental challenge of rebuilding trust, retaining staff, and ensuring the NHS can provide the care the nation needs.