RESIDENT DOCTORS IN ENGLAND BEGIN FIVE‑DAY STRIKE OVER PAY RESTORATION
Resident doctors across England have launched a five-day strike demanding pay restoration, marking one of the most significant industrial actions in the National Health Service (NHS) in recent years. Beginning at 7 a.m. on July 25 and scheduled to last until 7 a.m. on July 30, the strike involves nearly 50,000 doctors in training, also known as resident or junior doctors. Organized by the British Medical Association (BMA), the action comes after prolonged disputes over wages and working conditions.
The doctors argue that their pay has eroded dramatically over the past decade due to inflation and stagnant salary growth. According to the BMA, resident doctors have seen a real-terms pay cut of more than 20% since 2008. They are demanding a significant increase to restore wages to previous levels, which they argue is critical to retaining talent and sustaining the NHS workforce. Many striking doctors highlight that they face long hours, intense pressure, and high levels of debt from medical education while earning what they believe is far below fair value.
The strike follows a ballot in which around 90% of participating doctors voted in favor of industrial action. The mandate gives the BMA legal grounds to continue strikes until early 2026 if negotiations with the government fail. Previous talks between the BMA and Health Secretary Wes Streeting broke down after the government offered a pay rise of just over 5%, which doctors dismissed as insufficient to address years of lost income.
The impact on NHS services has been immediate. Thousands of appointments and non-urgent procedures have been postponed, and hospitals are operating on emergency staffing plans to prioritize critical care and accident and emergency units. NHS England has urged the public to use services wisely during the strike, such as contacting NHS 111 for non-emergency health needs. Some hospitals have had to recall striking doctors to cover essential services when patient safety was at risk.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting criticized the strike as “reckless,” arguing that the government has already made “generous” offers and that further increases could strain public finances. He also warned that prolonged strikes risk damaging patient trust and worsening NHS backlogs. However, BMA leaders counter that failing to restore fair pay will drive more doctors out of the NHS, exacerbating staffing shortages and harming patient care in the long term.
On the picket lines, many doctors have voiced frustration, saying the strike is not just about pay but also about valuing the profession. They argue that without competitive wages and better conditions, the NHS will continue to lose young medical professionals to other countries or private practice. Some have described the action as a last resort after years of being ignored by successive governments.
This strike underscores a growing wave of industrial action across the UK’s healthcare sector, reflecting broader concerns about underfunding, workforce retention, and the sustainability of public health services. Unless both sides return to the negotiating table and reach a meaningful agreement, further strikes seem likely, keeping the dispute at the center of national debate and highlighting the deep challenges facing the NHS.