Resident doctors in England have started a five-day strike from 7am on Wednesday, continuing until 7am on 22 December, as part of an ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions. The walkout marks the 14th strike by doctors since March 2023, following a similar five-day action last month.
Hopes of a last-minute resolution were dashed on Monday when members of the British Medical Association (BMA) rejected a fresh offer from the government. Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA's resident doctors committee, stated: 'These do not need to go ahead. Gradually raising pay over a few years and some common-sense fixes to the job security of our doctors are well within the reach of this government.'
Health secretary Wes Streeting described the strike as a 'cynical attempt to wreck Christmas,' adding that after a 28.9 per cent pay rise, the government offered to create more jobs and increase pay, but the BMA rejected it without putting it to a vote. The BMA claims the government failed to present a credible plan to address the jobs crisis and pay restoration.
Resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, currently earn between £38,831 and £44,439 for foundation training, and up to £73,992 for specialist training, including a 5.4 per cent uplift awarded this year. The BMA is seeking pay restoration to between £47,308 and £90,989 for various training stages, arguing that pay has been eroded by 20.9 per cent since 2008 when measured using the Retail Prices Index (RPI). However, using the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), the Nuffield Trust calculates a more moderate 4.7 per cent decline.
Comparatively, consultants earn between £105,504 and £139,882 annually, while nurses start at £31,049 and can reach £96,000 for senior roles. Dentists employed by the NHS start at £42,408, rising to £105,000. Resident doctor pay has increased nearly 30 per cent over the past three years, including 22 per cent since Labour came to power, but the BMA insists further rises are needed to offset historical inflation losses.
