Resident doctors in England will hold a four-day strike next month, marking the 16th such action in their extended dispute over pay and jobs. The walkout runs from 7am on Monday 15 June to 6.59am on Friday 19 June. The British Medical Association said the new health secretary’s position prompted the decision and warned of another stoppage in July without progress.
The 96-hour strike will affect NHS services, requiring hospitals to reschedule thousands of tests, outpatient visits and operations. The BMA seeks a pay rise to restore what it describes as a 26% real-terms loss in value since 2008-09 for England’s 75,000 resident doctors. It also wants a large increase in training places for medical specialties. The union represents about 55,000 of these doctors.
Health Secretary James Murray called the pay demands unrealistic, unaffordable and unsustainable, citing a 33.4% rise over four years. He expressed disappointment that the BMA rejected further talks.
BMA resident doctors committee chair Jack Fletcher said the change in leadership had not altered the government’s approach, leaving no room for meaningful negotiation on pay or new posts.
