Thousands of resident doctors in England are set to strike again, starting from 7am on 17 December until 7am on 22 December. This planned five-day strike is a response to ongoing disputes over pay and job security within the NHS.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has described this as the 14th strike since March, with recent actions already impacting frontline services. Hospitals warned that continued strikes could force reductions in appointments and operations, affecting patient care during a critical period.
The BMA claims the government has failed to present a “credible offer” on either pay or job security, forcing doctors back to the picket lines. Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, emphasized the lack of progress and described the proposed real-terms pay cuts as unacceptable.
Pay for resident doctors has increased by almost 30% over recent years. However, inflation has eroded the real value of their salaries since 2008, prompting the BMA to demand an additional 26% pay rise over the coming years. This increase aims to restore competitiveness and address ongoing financial challenges faced by doctors.
The BMA also highlights a severe jobs crisis, with more than 30,000 doctors competing for roughly 10,000 specialty training places. Despite some government promises to expand training posts by 2,000, the union argues this is insufficient to meet demand. Many qualified candidates, including those with PhDs and published research, are reportedly being denied interviews.
Previous strikes have cost the NHS around £300 million and led to over 1.5 million outpatient appointments and surgeries being rescheduled. The BMA is currently balloting members to extend strike mandates to August 2026, underscoring the urgency of their demands.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting condemned the strike plans as a “cynical attempt to wreck Christmas.” He stressed that the government had offered pay rises and more job creation, accusing the BMA of rejecting these without consulting members. Streeting reiterated his openness to negotiations aimed at protecting patient care during the holiday season.
As tensions rise, the dispute highlights ongoing challenges within the NHS workforce, particularly for frontline doctors navigating job security and fair compensation issues. The outcome of the strike and ongoing negotiations will be closely watched by patients and health officials alike during a critical winter period.
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