England Resident Doctors Vote for Strike Over Pay Cuts and Staff Shortages
Resident doctors across England have voted overwhelmingly to proceed with a planned strike in response to persistent staffing shortages and real-terms pay cuts that remain unaddressed by the government's offer.
The government's proposal to increase specialty training posts to 4,000 over three years would largely repurpose locally employed doctors rather than add new net capacity, leaving many unfilled training positions.
Currently, around 40,000 doctors are competing for approximately 10,000 specialty training places, with many posts not established, meaning numerous doctors are likely to be denied training opportunities.
Without additional measures, the government risks perpetuating the training bottleneck and further departures from the NHS workforce, which is already stretched thin.
Patient care is being affected by these shortages, with some lifesaving treatments limited to office hours and emergency departments, particularly in the north-east, being overwhelmed.
Resident doctors have endured over a decade of real-terms wage declines; while the union advocates for multi-year pay restoration, the government plans no immediate pay relief and proposes a below-inflation increase in early 2026.
Health secretary's rhetoric, including labeling the union as anti-professional, has frustrated the doctors and highlighted a disconnect with the workforce and public.
Dr Jack Fletcher, an acute medicine doctor in the north-east and chair of the BMA UK resident doctors committee, expressed these concerns.
A constructive path forward remains: the development of an evidence-based workforce plan, creation of the necessary training posts, and genuine negotiation on pay to retain doctors. Dr Fletcher stated he is ready to negotiate and suspend strikes if credible commitments are made.
