SNP leader John Swinney said today that he is “anxious” to prevent next week’s four-day doctor strike in Scotland.

Resident doctors in the British Medical Association (BMA) Scotland voted last month for strike action and walkouts are scheduled from 7am on Tuesday January 13 to 7am on Saturday January 17.

Speaking ahead of talks between Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray and the BMA, the First Minister told BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme that he wants to avoid disruption to the health service but “can’t put offers on the table that the government can’t afford, I can’t put offers on the table that will create further difficulties for us in public-sector pay.”

He insisted the Scottish government has remained faithful to a pay deal reached in 2023.

The BMA is calling for credible progress to be made towards increasing the 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 extensive negotiations with the Scottish Government today and talks will continue this week. The message from our ballot of resident doctors in Scotland is that they will not stand by while the deal made with them just two years ago is broken, but 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.”