Resident doctors across England have declared they will stage a five-day walkout from December 17 to December 22, marking their fourteenth round of industrial action since 2022.
The Dispute
The British Medical Association, representing thousands of resident doctors (formerly called junior doctors), announced the strike following what they describe as inadequate government responses to ongoing pay and employment concerns.
The medical professionals received a 5.4 percent salary increase in May, recommended by an independent review body. While this exceeded April’s 3.5 percent inflation rate, union representatives argue it fails to address long-term wage decline since 2008.
Dr Jack Fletcher, who chairs the BMA’s resident doctors committee, explained that the union seeks a 29.2 percent pay adjustment to compensate for what they term “pay erosion” over nearly two decades. The organization also highlights difficulties doctors face securing specialist training positions between their second and third years of practice.
Government Response
Health Secretary Wes Streeting criticized the timing of the action, characterizing it as deliberately disruptive during the holiday period. He noted that doctors have already received a 28.9 percent pay increase and that the government recently proposed additional support measures, including expanded training opportunities and assistance with examination costs.
The BMA rejected these proposals within hours, without consulting their broader membership, according to Streeting.
The Numbers
Resident doctors constitute approximately half of all NHS physicians. Entry-level doctors earn £38,831 in their first foundation year, rising to £44,439 in year two. With experience of eight years or more, salaries can reach £70,000, supplemented by additional payments for night shifts, weekends, and extended hours.
The dispute centers partly on how pay changes are measured. The BMA uses the Retail Price Index, which includes housing costs and shows a 21 percent real-terms decrease since 2008. The government relies on the Consumer Prices Index, which the Nuffield Trust calculates shows a 5 percent decline over the same period.
Impact Concerns
NHS Providers chief executive Daniel Elkeles called the announcement inflammatory, noting that the Christmas period requires maximum staffing to manage patient discharges and seasonal demand spikes. Previous strikes have resulted in approximately 1.5 million cancelled appointments since 2022.
Public sentiment appears to have shifted on the issue. Recent polling indicates 48 percent of Britons now oppose resident doctor strikes, compared to 52 percent support recorded last summer.
The BMA is currently balloting members on extending their strike mandate, which expires in January. If approved, the authorization would run until August 2026, with voting concluding on February 2.
