NHS England has criticized senior doctors for charging excessive overtime rates, with some earning over £200,000 annually in extra pay, nearly double the average consultant salary. A BBC investigation reveals hospitals struggle with rising overtime expenses, now nearing £1 billion, as they attempt to address staffing shortages and long waiting lists. Health Secretary Wes Streeting deems these rates unacceptable, while the British Medical Association links the overtime reliance to inadequate staffing levels. As NHS funding increases, concerns arise about the sustainability and value for money of this approach to managing backlogs and providing care.