Resident doctors will strike again this month for five days of industrial action, designed to bring hospitals to a standstill.
Thousands of medics — previously known as junior doctors — will walk out in the run-up to Christmas from December 17 to December 22.
British Medical Association (BMA) bosses claimed they had ‘no choice but to announce more strike dates’ after the Government failed to put forward a ‘credible plan’.
The medics have already taken industrial action 13 times since 2022 — with their last walkout just two weeks ago — crippling services and forcing health bosses to cancel an estimated 1.5million appointments.
Health secretary Wes Streeting condemned the announcement as a ‘cynical attempt to wreck Christmas’.
Industry leaders also labelled the walkout an ‘inflammatory act by the BMA’, warning it would put ‘intense’ pressure on NHS services amid surging flu cases and staff sickness.
Resident doctors were offered a 5.4 per cent pay rise in May following a review of public sector pay.
The increase, recommended by an independent pay review body, was above the rate of inflation, which jumped to 3.5 per cent in April, the highest since January 2024.
British Medical Association (BMA) bosses claimed they had ‘no choice but to announce more strike dates’ after the Government failed to put forward a ‘credible plan’. Pictured, resident doctors on the picket line outside St Thomas’ Hospital in London last month
But the BMA labelled the uplift an ‘insult to doctors’ and said a pay lift of 29.2 per cent was vital to reverse ‘pay erosion’ since 2008.
It has also warned doctors are struggling to find jobs at a key stage of their training — between years two and three when they start speciality training.
Prior to last month’s walkout, Mr Streeting wrote to BMA leaders offering a package of measures including more specialist training places and help with exam fees.
But they rejected the proposal in just four hours without consulting their wider membership.
Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, today said: ‘With the Government failing to put forward a credible plan to fix the jobs crisis for resident doctors at the same time as pushing a real terms pay cut for them, we have no choice but to announce more strike dates.
‘However, these do not need to go ahead.
‘Gradually raising pay over a few years and some common-sense fixes to the job security of our doctors are well within the reach of this Government.
‘It would ensure both the long-term strength of our healthcare workforce and spare the country the indignity of see unemployed doctors at a time patients are queuing up to even even see a GP.
‘This month we’ve seen the full farcical extent of the jobs crisis, with second-year doctors applying for training posts being asked to provide evidence of experience well beyond what would have previously been asked of them.
‘It is precisely this sort of situation which is driving doctors away from jobs and to the picket line. But it is not too late for Government to get a grip on the situation.’
Responding to the BMA announcement, however, Mr Streeting said: ‘The BMA have clearly chosen to strike when it will cause maximum disruption, causing untold anxiety.
‘Patients and NHS staff deserve better than this cynical attempt to wreck Christmas.
‘After a 28.9 per cent pay rise, the Government offered to create more jobs and put money back in resident doctors’ pockets.
‘The BMA rejected it out of hand, refused to put the offer to its members, blocking a better deal for doctors.
‘Now, without a single conversation with the Government, they’re threatening more strikes at the busiest time of the year.’
NHS Providers chief executive Daniel Elkeles also labelled the announcement ‘an inflammatory act by the BMA’.
Health secretary Wes Streeting condemned the announcement as a ‘cynical attempt to wreck Christmas’
He said: ‘Everyone knows in the run-up to Christmas we need all hands on deck.
‘It’s really important to be able to discharge as many patients as possible so that where appropriate they can be at home with their loved ones.
‘We need to ensure there’s the hospital capacity too to deal with the additional demand that always comes at this time of year. That’s going to be even more challenging now.
‘It’s totally unfair to patients and to other staff working for the NHS. Both sides need to get back round the table to break the logjam.’
Resident doctors make up around half of all doctors in the NHS.
During their first foundation year after finishing their medical degree, resident doctors in England earn a basic salary of £38,831. In their second year, this rises to £44,439.
Medics are often expected to work night shifts, weekends and longer hours for extra payments.
After eight years or more as a resident doctor, salaries can progress to around £70,000.
A YouGov poll earlier this year found that 48 per cent of Britons oppose resident doctors going on strike, while 39 per cent support them taking action
The BMA claimed first year resident doctor pay is 21 per cent lower in real terms than it was in 2008.
It wants pay for the group to be brought back in line with the level it was at 17 years ago, when they say their value of their pay started to be eroded.
The claim is based on a measure of inflation called the Retail Price Index (RPI) — this includes housing costs and shows higher price increases than some other inflation measures.
However, the Government says RPI is outdated.
Instead, it uses the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) to calculate inflation and pay increases.
CPI looks at the cost of goods and services based on a basket of household items.
Using the CPI measure, the government says resident doctors’ current pay is fair.
Analysis from health think tank the Nuffield Trust has suggested that pay has fallen 5 per cent since 2008 if CPI is used.
Earlier this year, a YouGov poll also found that 48 per cent of Britons oppose resident doctors going on strike, while 39 per cent support them taking action.
YouGov said this ‘marks a shift in opinion’ of public support of striking junior doctors last summer, when the majority of Britons — 52 per cent — said they supported the action.
Last week, the BMA announced it would be balloting its resident doctor members on extending its mandate for strike action, which runs out in January.
If the vote is successful, the mandate would extend to August 2026. The ballot will run from December 8 until February 2.
