The Scottish Government has been told the "needless loss of life" if doctors' strikes go ahead next week will "rest squarely" with First Minister John Swinney and his health secretary Neil Gray.
The warning was issued in the Holyrood chamber today by Scottish Conservative MSP and health spokesperson Sandesh Gulhane who also described the planned strike action as "irresponsible" at a time of growing pressure on the NHS.
It comes as the health secretary has said the strikes will lead to NHS appointment cancellations and 'potential harm' as he urged resident doctors to reconsider any action.
Last month, resident doctors in Scotland voted to go on strike for four days in January, after accusing the Scottish government of breaking its promise on pay restoration.
So far, Scotland has been the only UK nation to avoid strike action by resident doctors.
However, walkouts are now scheduled to start from 7am on Tuesday January 13, lasting until 7am on Saturday January 17.
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There were talks today between Scottish health secretary Neil Gray and the British Medical Association (BMA).
Speaking during topical questions, Mr Gulhane, who is a practising GP and BMA member, pressed the Scottish Government for an update on talks with the British Medical Association (BMA) over a planned strike by resident doctors next week.
Raising his concerns on the upcoming strike action in the chamber today, Mr Gulhane said: "With an almost unprecedented flu season it feels irresponsible for resident doctors to strike next week and I would encourage them to think again.
“It is critical that the Scottish Government stops these strikes from happening and if they go ahead, the needless loss of life will rest squarely on the shoulders of Neil Gray and John Swinney. "
Responding, Mr Gray told MSPs discussions were ongoing, however, he hopes to find a "compromise" as he said the strikes will cause "substantial disruption" including NHS appointment cancellations.
Mr Gray said he was unable to provide an update on the talks as he said it was " important to respect the confidentiality of those discussions".
The health secretary said: “These discussions are ongoing and we hope to agree a resolution to avoid industrial action which is in no one’s interest least of all patients.
“It’s important to respect the confidentiality of those discussions…
“I am seeking to find compromise with our resident doctor colleagues. I respect their right to strike, I respect their right to ballot their members, of course I do.
“Industrial action will cause substantial disruption and I have ensured that our boards are prepared as they possibly can be for that industrial action should it take place next week.”
He added: “That has the potential to bring about harm…I am doing everything possible to try to find, through compromise and negotiation, a route through that avoids industrial action next week.”
Mr Gray warned that strike action would result in disruption to routine services, saying: “Strike action will lead to some cancellations of appointments as staff have to ensure acute and urgent care is protected so I do ask the BMA to reconsider this so that we can collectively continue to improve the experience of our patients.”
He said the Scottish Government had been working with health boards to ensure they are “as prepared as possible” should the strike go ahead, adding that negotiation and compromise were required “in order to find a way through that is suitable to patients, that is suitable to resident doctors, that is affordable and fair across public sector pay policy.”
On Monday, the First Minister said he wanted to avoid the action if he “possibly can”, adding that he was “anxious” to resolve the situation and warning that the planned strike would disrupt NHS care.
The BMA is calling for what it describes as “credible progress”, including an increase in hourly starting pay for resident doctors from £17.40 to £20.90.
Dr Chris Smith, chair of BMA Scotland’s Resident Doctor Committee, said: "“We have been involved in ongoing negotiations with the Scottish Government today and talks are continuing. We remain absolutely committed to doing all we can to find a resolution that will avoid strike action, which is the clear aim of the ongoing talks.”
On a turnout of close to 60%, 92% of resident doctors voted to strike.
Strike action was avoided in the summer of 2023 when a new pay offer was agreed.
However, a proposed uplift of 4.25% for 2025/26 was rejected by the union, which said that would represent the lowest rise in the UK and was below the recommendation by the independent pay review body.
During topical questions today, Dr Gulhane also pointed to wider pressures across the NHS, saying November was the worst on record for four-hour A&E waits and that the 62-day cancer treatment target has not been met in over a decade. He added that Scots overall “continue to struggle” to get a GP appointment.
Mr Gray rejected claims the health service was failing, telling the chamber: “The NHS is demonstrably turning a corner. We can see that in the waiting times data that has been published today showing that for the sixth month in a row, waiting times over a year have reduced and reduced substantially and that is down to the efforts of staff and the investment that’s been given by government in order to focus on that.”
