'This is just greed!' Nana Akua blasts doctors for 'unfair' strikes amid five day walkout

The British Medical Association (BMA), representing the doctors, says pay remains too low and there are not enough training places or available jobs to meet demand.

Speaking about the strikes on GB News, Labour councillor Stuart Fawcett said: "I think we all value what doctors, nurses, and healthcare staff across the NHS do.

"If there were an opportunity to recompense them fairly, they would be among the highest-paid people in the world.

He added: "There is more competitive pay scales elsewhere. So that is a point of concern."

Asked if he supports it he said: "I really want people to have a say in their pay, terms, and conditions. But when we look at what others are saying… at this moment in time, regarding their strikes, I couldn’t support that, knowing that other people are struggling as they are."

Nana agreed: "That's just semantics anyway. A doctor is a doctor. They work very hard, and we appreciate that.

"But this is greed. Especially when the Health Secretary has said he is willing to work with them, it will take time.

"Just because it's not happening on the timescale they expect, they think it's totally unfair and I have to say, I agree with him."

On Friday, Health Secretary Wes Streeting took calls from LBC listeners, including one from Niraj, a resident doctor, who pushed back against claims that striking doctors don’t care about patient safety.

Niraj told Mr Streeting: "Of course we all care about patient safety. None of us wants to be on strike. I would rather be at work today."

Mr Streeting reesponded: "On pay, on speciality training places, on improvements to conditions, I have been working to address every single one of those issues.

"These are not the conditions in which people go out on strike. Strike should be a last resort."

Mr Streeting said doctors going on strike again over pay was "inflicting pain and misery" on patients.