Balanced News: Junior doctor pay talks could go ahead today to end strikes

Junior doctors are set to meet with the Health Secretary today to discuss a pay rise after a breakthrough on a deal with other NHS staff. Talks on the pay rise are still ongoing, but the union is calling for “pay restoration” for junior doctors, who can have many years’ experience and make up about 45 per cent of the medical workforce. The pay rise offered to other NHS staff is only a one-off bonus payment and does not reverse the 26 per cent pay reduction junior doctors have experienced in real terms since 2008.