Resident doctors are planning to go on strike from June 15 to June 19 as part of their ongoing disagreement with the Government regarding pay, according to the British Medication Association (BMA). The union has disclosed these strike dates and hinted at the possibility of more strikes in July, expressing dissatisfaction with the failure of the new Health Secretary, James Murray, to enhance the Government’s proposal.
Members of the BMA who are resident doctors have the authorization for industrial action until August and previously engaged in a strike in April. The most recent strike, spanning six days during the Easter holiday, marked the 15th strike by resident doctors in England since 2023. The collective expenses incurred due to these strikes are estimated to have exceeded £3 billion.
Before the April strike, the former Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, had put forward a 4.9% rise in average basic pay from 2026 to 2027. Streeting claimed that this increase would have rendered resident doctors 35.2% better off compared to four years ago. Additionally, his proposal included an offer of 1,000 additional training positions, which was withdrawn due to the rising costs of the strikes affecting the NHS.
Dr. Jack Fletcher, the chair of the resident doctors committee, expressed disappointment in the lack of progress under the new Health Secretary. Despite hopes for a change in approach with the leadership transition, the current Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, James Murray, has not presented a more favorable offer, causing frustration among resident doctors.
In response, Secretary James Murray emphasized the substantial pay raise of 33.4% over the past four years for resident doctors, stating that further demands for pay hikes are unreasonable and unsustainable. Murray criticized the decision for additional strike actions, highlighting the adverse impact on patients, staff, and the financial burden on the NHS.
Murray urged the BMA to refrain from escalating the situation with more strikes and urged collaboration with the Government for the betterment of their members and the NHS.