Resident doctors in England are preparing for further strike action, with walkouts scheduled from Monday, June 15th, to Friday, June 19th. This marks the 16th instance of industrial action in a protracted dispute over pay and working conditions.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has expressed frustration with the government's approach, with BMA resident doctor leader Dr. Jack Fletcher stating that the opportunity to resolve the dispute has been wasted. "Instead, we are hearing the same tired line: vagueness on new jobs and no further money on the table," Fletcher said.
In response, the government has criticized the BMA for initiating what it calls "unnecessary and unreasonable strike action." Health officials reiterate that resident doctors have received a 33.4% pay rise over the past four years, which they describe as the highest increase across the public sector. Further substantial pay increases are reportedly not on the table.
Previously, the government had proposed a package of measures, including accelerating the expansion of specialist training posts. In 2025, there were over 30,000 applicants for approximately 10,000 such positions. The government had pledged to increase these posts by 4,000 by 2028, with the first 1,000 available in 2026, and aimed to prioritize doctors educated and working in the UK.
Additional proposals included covering some out-of-pocket expenses, such as exam fees, and ensuring faster pay progression through the five salary bands during training. However, the BMA ended talks in March, alleging the deal had been watered down. Following this, the government withdrew its offer of the additional 1,000 training posts.
Public opinion on the industrial action has been divided. Polling conducted before the April strikes indicated that 53% of the public opposed the action, while 38% supported it.