The British Medical Association (BMA) has confirmed that a planned five-day strike by resident doctors in England will begin this Friday.
Despite five days of recent negotiations with the government, the union says a deal wasn’t reached. Talks had been focused on improving working conditions for resident doctors—previously known as junior doctors—but the BMA insists that pay remains the core issue.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting had asked the BMA to call off the strike in exchange for continued discussions. However, the union declined, saying the proposals on the table didn’t go far enough.
Streeting called the decision to strike “reckless and needless,” claiming the BMA had walked away from progress.
BMA resident doctors committee co-chairs, Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt, said they participated in the talks hoping for a resolution.
"We’ve said from the start that no doctor wants to strike. All we need is a credible plan for pay restoration," they said. "We were open to non-pay solutions, but the crux of this dispute is still pay."
What’s behind the strike?
While pay is the main sticking point, several non-pay issues were discussed:
- Government help with costly medical exam fees.
- More control over doctors’ placements in early training.
- Greater notice on shift schedules.
- Faster career progression during the 10+ years of training.
- A possible student loan forgiveness scheme, given many doctors graduate with debts over £100,000.
Resident doctors received a 5.4% pay rise this year and a 22% increase across the previous two years. But the BMA says this still leaves their pay about 20% lower in real terms compared to 2008.
Streeting argued the government had made the most generous offers in the public sector and accused the union of disregarding patients.
NHS plans and patient safety concerns
NHS England has said it plans to limit the number of cancelled routine treatments during the strike. But the BMA warns this could overload senior doctors who will be covering for striking staff.
During previous strikes in 2023 and 2024, hospitals canceled large amounts of non-urgent care to prioritize emergency services. But this time, under new NHS England chief Sir Jim Mackey, there's a push to minimize disruption.
Some worry this shift may also carry risks—by trying to do too much with too few staff.
Dr Runswick also defended the high rates consultants may charge—reportedly over £300 an hour—to cover shifts during the strike, saying that extra pay is often needed to secure cover outside of normal hours.