Resident doctors in England will stage a six-day strike starting on 7 April after rejecting the government's final offer in the long-running pay dispute. The British Medical Association (BMA) blamed the government for the walkout, which is the longest proposed so far.
The strike, from 7am on Tuesday 7 April to 6.59am on Monday 13 April, marks the 15th industrial action by resident doctors in their campaign for 'full pay restoration'. NHS leaders warned it could cost the health service an estimated £300m, lead to cancelled appointments, and force patients to wait longer for tests, treatment and surgery.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the BMA's move as 'enormously disappointing', saying resident doctors had rejected a 'generous' offer that would have brought higher salaries and more training places. Talks had been ongoing since early January, with progress on salaries and early career doctors' ability to move into specialist training.
Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA's resident doctors committee, said negotiations had been going well until the government 'began to shift the goalposts' two weeks ago. The key issue was pay progression, or 'nodal point reform', with the BMA wanting the full £700m package delivered in the next financial year, while the Department of Health and Social Care insisted on spreading it over three years.
The BMA and Streeting have signalled willingness to hold fresh talks to avert the strike, but the union has said it would only reach a deal if the government agrees to the full £700m in the financial year starting next week. The first strike by resident doctors began on 13 March 2023, and this will be the fourth year of industrial action.
