Doctors vote for more strike action as pay row drags on

NHS resident doctors in England have voted to continue industrial action for another six months as part of their ongoing row over pay and jobs.

- REBECCA WHITTAKER

The British Medical Association (BMA) wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “An overwhelming 93.4 per cent of resident doctors in England have voted for further strike action, giving a clear mandate to continue pressuring the government on jobs and pay in 2026. The overall turnout was 52.54 per cent. Stay tuned for updates on our next steps.”

Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, said: “None of this needs to mean more strikes. In recent weeks the government has shown an improved approach in tone compared with the name-calling we saw late last year.

“A deal is there to be done: a new jobs package and an offer raising pay fairly over several years can be worked out through goodwill on both sides, in the interests of patients, staff and the whole NHS. And now that the mandate for strike action is confirmed for six months, the government has nowhere to run and no means of running out the clock. With no choice but to get a deal, we hope that means a responsible approach from the health secretary and a timely settlement with no further need for strikes.”