Resident doctors to strike in England for 16th time over pay

Another walkout on the horizon

The British Medical Association has announced that resident doctors — formerly known as junior doctors — in England will stage a fresh four-day strike beginning 15 June, marking the 16th round of industrial action in a pay dispute that has dragged on for over three years. The decision follows what the BMA describes as the government's failure to make a credible offer on pay restoration, despite months of behind-the-scenes negotiations.

Resident doctors form the backbone of hospital care in the NHS, making up roughly half of all doctors in England. The strikes have repeatedly disrupted hospital services, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of thousands of elective surgeries and outpatient appointments. The latest walkout comes at a particularly challenging time for the health service, which is already grappling with record waiting lists and high patient demand heading into the summer months.

What the doctors want

The BMA is demanding full pay restoration to 2008 levels, arguing that resident doctors have suffered a cumulative real-terms pay cut of more than 26% over the past 15 years. The union points out that starting salaries for newly qualified doctors have barely budged in real terms, while workloads have intensified significantly. The current base salary for a first-year resident doctor stands at around £32,400, a figure the BMA says compares unfavourably to starting salaries in other graduate professions.

The government has offered a series of incremental pay increases — including an 8.8% rise for 2024-25 and a further 6% for 2025-26 — but the BMA says these fall well short of what is needed to reverse the cumulative erosion in pay. The union has also raised concerns about working conditions, including excessive overtime, inadequate rest breaks and the rising incidence of burnout among early-career doctors.

Impact on patients and the NHS

Health leaders have expressed frustration at the continued stalemate, warning that each strike further strains a healthcare system already operating at maximum capacity. NHS England has said it will prioritise emergency and critical care during the strike period, but routine appointments and elective procedures are likely to be postponed. Patient groups have urged both sides to resume negotiations and find a resolution that avoids further disruption to care.

The government has insisted it remains open to further talks but has warned that there is no unlimited budget for pay rises. With inflation stabilising and the public finances under pressure, the Treasury has pushed back against what it considers unaffordable demands. The BMA, meanwhile, says its members are prepared to continue striking indefinitely unless the government puts forward a credible plan for full pay restoration.

Source: BBC News