Resident doctors are set to go on strike from June 15 to June 19 due to ongoing disagreements with the Government regarding their pay, as confirmed by the BMA.

The union has disclosed the strike schedule and hinted at the possibility of further strikes in July, citing dissatisfaction with the lack of improvement in the Government’s proposal by the newly appointed Health Secretary, James Murray.

Members of the British Medication Association (BMA) who are resident doctors have been granted authorization for industrial action until August, with their most recent strike occurring in April.

The previous strike, lasting six days during the Easter holiday period, marked the 15th strike by resident doctors in England since 2023, with estimated total costs from these actions exceeding £3 billion.

Before the April strike, the former Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, had put forward a plan for a 4.9% rise in average basic pay from 2026 to 2027, aiming to provide a 35.2% increase compared to four years prior for resident doctors.

Streeting’s proposal also included an offering of 1,000 additional training positions, which was retracted due to the escalating costs associated with the strikes impacting the NHS.

Dr. Jack Fletcher, chair of the resident doctors committee, expressed disappointment in the lack of progress under the new Health Secretary, stating the ongoing impasse in negotiations on pay and job-related issues.

In response, Health Secretary James Murray expressed regret over the BMA’s decision to proceed with strike action, highlighting the challenges posed by their demands for increased pay given the substantial pay rises already implemented for resident doctors in recent years.

Murray urged the BMA to reconsider their stance on strikes, emphasizing the positive developments in the NHS, including increased doctor numbers, reduced waiting lists, and higher patient satisfaction, and encouraging collaboration with the Government for the benefit of all parties involved.