Tens of thousands of doctors across England will proceed with a major five-day strike in the week before Christmas, after overwhelmingly rejecting a last-ditch offer from the government.
Strike Action Confirmed After Poll
The British Medical Association (BMA) announced that its resident doctor members have voted decisively to press ahead with industrial action. The walkout is scheduled to run from December 17 to December 22, placing significant additional pressure on NHS services during a period of high seasonal demand.
The union revealed that 65% of its eligible members participated in the ballot, with a resounding 83% of those voting in favour of the strike. This follows the government's attempt last week to avert the action with a new proposal.
The Government's Offer and Union's Rejection
The rejected deal did not include any new promises on pay. Instead, it focused on expanding the number of specialty training posts within NHS hospitals and offering to cover certain trainee expenses, such as exam fees.
However, the BMA has maintained that the central issue remains pay restoration. The union points out that, when inflation is accounted for, resident doctors—formerly known as junior doctors—are now paid approximately 20% less than they were in 2008, before austerity cuts following the financial crisis.
Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA's resident doctors committee, stated: "Our members have considered the Government’s offer, and their resounding response should leave the health secretary in no doubt about how badly he has just fumbled his opportunity to end industrial action." He dismissed the proposed new training posts as being "on paper" only, suggesting they would be created by "cannibalising" existing roles.
Political and NHS Fallout
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has refused to negotiate further on pay, branding the union's demands a "fantasy". He highlighted that resident doctors have received a nearly 30% pay increase over the past three years and accused the BMA of using "Christmas strikes to inflict damage on the NHS at the moment of maximum danger."
Prime Minister Keir Starmer also weighed in, telling MPs he believed the BMA had "lost the sympathy of the public and lost the sympathy of their non-doctor colleagues." He appealed directly to doctors to push back against their union's leadership.
The strike comes as the NHS faces a severe winter crisis. Health leaders warn the service is being hit by a "tidal wave of flu" linked to the H3N2 virus, with an average of 2,660 people hospitalised daily last week. Daniel Elkeles of NHS Providers described the situation as "uncharted territory."
The BMA has reiterated its commitment to patient safety during the strikes, pledging to work closely with NHS England to address any critical safety concerns that arise.
