Resident Doctors Announce Five-Day Strike Amid Pay Dispute
Hey everyone, I want to talk about something that's making big waves across the healthcare sector in England — the upcoming five-day strike by resident doctors, also known as junior doctors. Starting from 7:00 AM on July 25 until 7:00 AM on July 30 , thousands of medics are set to walk out, marking another major chapter in the ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions.
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Now, this isn’t coming out of nowhere. These doctors, who are essential to the functioning of the NHS, have already taken part in 11 separate strikes during 2023 and 2024 . Despite receiving pay increases over the past few years — including a 22% rise across two years and an additional 5.4% starting this August — the British Medical Association (BMA) argues it's not enough. They say that, in real terms, their pay has dropped by nearly 20% since 2008 , effectively meaning they’re working one day in five unpaid . That’s a powerful claim.
But the government’s pushing back. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has called the strike "unnecessary and unreasonable," pointing out that resident doctors have received the highest public sector pay awards for two years straight. From his side, the argument is that they’ve already been given a fair deal, especially in today’s economic climate. He also argues that more strikes could deeply harm NHS recovery efforts and risk public support.
The BMA, however, insists this is not a choice they want to make. The co-chairs of the resident doctors committee have stated they were open to negotiation and tried to avoid strike action by meeting the health secretary — but were met with a refusal to discuss pay at all. They’re calling for a "credible offer" to put them on a path toward restoring the value of their pay.
What makes this even more intense is that there’s now a threat of longer-term action — potentially six months of strikes stretching into 2026 if the deadlock continues. The NHS Confederation has warned that this could derail the government’s pledge to cut waiting times and meet treatment targets. Plus, there’s a ripple effect: other NHS groups, like consultants and nurses, are now reconsidering their own pay deals and could follow suit with strikes of their own.
It’s a standoff — and one that could have major consequences for the NHS and patients across the country. The government insists there's no more money on the table, and the doctors say they can’t afford to keep working under these conditions. The next two weeks will be crucial. The BMA has made it clear: if the government comes to the table with a serious offer, the strike can be avoided. But if not, the disruption will be real — and it could just be the beginning.
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