- Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, has pledged to ban doctors' strikes if her party returns to power, proposing primary legislation to impose restrictions similar to those on police and soldiers.
- The pledge follows a five-day walkout by resident doctors over a pay dispute, with the British Medical Association (BMA) arguing that doctors' pay has declined by a fifth since 2008 due to inflation.
- The Conservatives intend to reintroduce minimum service level requirements across the health service, which had been previously removed by Labour.
- Badenoch stated that the BMA has become "militant" and that the strikes are "going too far," asserting that medicine is a vocation.
- Health Secretary Wes Streeting has warned of challenging days for the NHS, with patients urged to attend appointments unless otherwise instructed, and hospitals aiming to reschedule cancellations within two weeks.
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