NHS Doctors Announce Six-Day Strike in England After Easter Holiday
The British Medical Association has declared that resident doctors in England will embark on a six-day strike commencing on Tuesday, April 7, immediately following the Easter weekend. This industrial action marks the 15th walkout in an ongoing pay dispute, with thousands of planned hospital appointments expected to be cancelled as a result.
Government Offer Rejected Amid Inflation Concerns
The announcement comes after the Government proposed a 3.5% pay rise for doctors for the 2026/27 period. This offer was made on the same day that new data revealed the Retail Price Index measure of inflation stood at 3.6%, with expectations that the conflict in the Middle East could drive inflation even higher in the coming months.
Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the Resident Doctors Committee, expressed frustration over the negotiations. "We have been negotiating in good faith for weeks to try and end the simultaneous pay and jobs crises for resident doctors," he stated. "Frustratingly we had been making good progress right up until the point, in the last two weeks, when the Government began to shift the goalposts."
Dr Fletcher elaborated that as discussions advanced, it became apparent that the proposed funding for pay increases would be distributed over three years rather than as an immediate uplift. This, combined with the pay review body's recommendation of a 3.5% increase, suggests that doctor salaries will "barely tread water" for the foreseeable future.
Pay Restoration Demands and Historical Context
The BMA has been advocating for a commitment to increase pay by 26% over the next several years to address what they describe as significant pay erosion since 2008. According to the union, real-term salaries for resident doctors have declined by approximately one-fifth when measured against the RPI inflation index.
In contrast, the Government's preferred Consumer Price Index, which excludes mortgage and permanent housing costs, indicates that average resident doctor salaries have fallen by 5% since 2008. However, it is noted that pay has been increasing for resident doctors in recent years, particularly since the Labour party assumed power in July 2024.
Union Leadership Expresses Disappointment
BMA council chair Dr Tom Dolphin voiced strong criticism of the Government's position. "Today's announcement will be a crushing blow to doctors in England, leaving many to consider why they should continue to give their all to a system that refuses to value them," he said.
Dr Dolphin emphasized that both the recommendation and the award fail to keep pace with the rising cost of living, let alone restore the pay that doctors have lost over the past 17 years. "It is no surprise then that the BMA's resident doctors committee has rejected an offer for resident doctors in England that includes today's award and announced new strike dates," he added.
Financial Impact and Previous Industrial Action
The upcoming strike follows a five-day walkout staged by resident doctors just before Christmas, which was their 14th strike since March 2023. Each of the three five-day stoppages conducted since Labour took office has incurred an estimated cost of £250 million to the NHS.
This industrial action occurs despite a 5.4% pay increase awarded to resident doctors for 2025/26, which the Government has characterized as the most generous in the public sector. The Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration advises the Government on pay rates, with ministers ultimately deciding whether to accept its recommendations.
Dr Fletcher reiterated the union's steadfast position: "We have made abundantly clear throughout this dispute that our aim is pay restoration, and any deal that did not move us substantially in that direction was not going to fly." The strike is scheduled to run from 7am on April 7 until 6.59am on April 13, with the BMA indicating that doctors have a mandate to strike for an additional six months if necessary.
