Resident doctors are set to go on strike from June 15 to June 19 as part of their ongoing disagreement with the Government regarding their pay, according to the British Medical Association (BMA). The union has disclosed the strike dates and hinted at the possibility of further strikes in July, citing dissatisfaction with the new Health Secretary James Murray’s failure to enhance the Government’s proposed offer.
Members of the British Medical Association (BMA) who are resident doctors have been granted the authority to engage in industrial action until August, with their most recent strike occurring in April. The April strike lasted for six days during the Easter holiday and marked the 15th strike by resident doctors in England since 2023, with the total cost of these strikes estimated to have exceeded £3 billion.
Before the April strike, the former Health Secretary Wes Streeting had suggested a 4.9% increase in average basic pay from 2026 to 2027, aiming to boost resident doctors’ pay by 35.2% compared to four years prior. Streeting’s proposal also included an offer of 1,000 additional training positions, which was retracted due to the escalating costs of the strikes.
Dr. Jack Fletcher, chair of the resident doctors committee, expressed disappointment in the lack of progress under the new Health Secretary, stating that the same obstacles encountered with the previous Secretary persist. The committee had hoped for a more proactive approach from James Murray in addressing pay concerns and job shortages affecting their profession.
In response, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care James Murray expressed disappointment at the refusal of the BMA to engage in further discussions to enhance the current pay offer. He highlighted that resident doctors have received a 33.4% pay increase over the past four years, emphasizing that additional substantial pay raises are unrealistic and unsustainable. Murray urged the BMA to reconsider their decision to strike, stressing the adverse impact on patients, staff, and the NHS’s financial burden.
Murray pointed out the positive trends in the NHS, including a rise in doctor numbers, reduced waiting lists, and increased patient satisfaction, urging the BMA to collaborate with the Government for the benefit of their members and the healthcare system.
