Why are resident medics threatening to strike again?

One of the factors that most contributed to a sense of national malaise, the comprehensive rejection of the Conservatives, and the election of a Labour government last year was the almost constant turbulence caused by strikes in the public sector, and especially in the NHS.

- SEAN O'GRADY

There were some hopes – perhaps unrealistic, possibly hyped by Labour politicians – that a change of government would end the disruption to hospital services for good. Yet the British Medical Association is, once again, balloting its members on industrial action, and it is now Wes Streeting who is on the other side of the negotiating table. There may be some difficult months ahead...

Are the junior doctors going on strike?

We don’t call them “junior” any more, because it was misleading – many are well into their careers, albeit not yet at consultant status – and also a bit demeaning. So they’re now known as “resident” doctors, but their complaints are the same. Just as they demanded of previous Tory secretaries of state, they want Streeting to restore the real-terms value of their salaries compared to 2008 levels.

A long period of below-inflation settlements has had a sizeable cumulative effect, and implies a pay rise of about 23 per cent. By comparison, the Department of Health and Social Care is offering an average of 5.4 per cent (a 4 per cent rise plus a “consolidated payment” of £750).

The result of the ballot, which has just opened, will be made public soon after it closes on 7 July. If the proposed mandate for industrial action is approved, it will last from this summer until January 2026.

Are any other groups going on strike?