NHS England has condemned senior doctors for charging excessive overtime rates, with some earning over £200,000 annually for extra work, more than double the average salary for full-time consultants. A BBC investigation revealed that high overtime costs, nearly £1 billion this fiscal year, result from pressure to address NHS waiting lists amidst staffing shortages. While Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged the issue, the British Medical Association stated that reliance on overtime is due to insufficient staffing. NHS trusts argue that premium overtime pay is necessary to manage workloads and maintain patient care during a challenging period for the health service.