On Thursday 23 October, 2025, resident doctors in England have announced strike action in response to the Government’s failure to provide a satisfactory plan for job security and pay increases. The strike will take place from 7am on November 14th to 7am on November 19th.
Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s resident doctors committee (RDC), expressed disappointment in the current situation, stating, “This is not where we wanted to be. We have spent the last week in talks with the Government, pressing the Health Secretary to end the scandal of doctors going unemployed.” He went on to highlight the issue of half of second year doctors in England struggling to find jobs while patients wait for treatment and shifts in hospitals remain unfilled.
The BMA had hoped to reach a deal that would gradually reverse pay cuts and provide a pay increase of just one pound per hour for newly trained doctors over the next four years. However, the Government’s response, which was received in an 11th hour letter, did not meet their expectations. Dr Fletcher stated that the letter showed “little understanding of the crisis here and now, or a real commitment to fix it.”
While the BMA is eager to reach a deal, they feel that the Government is not prioritizing this issue. Dr Fletcher emphasized the need for the Health Secretary to provide a proper offer on jobs and pay, as well as making concrete plans to create more jobs and training opportunities in the NHS. He believes that this would be a step towards a better healthcare system for both doctors and patients.
The BMA is a professional association and trade union that represents and negotiates on behalf of all doctors in the UK. They strive to advocate for outstanding healthcare and a healthy population while providing members with individual services and support throughout their careers.
For further information, please contact the BMA media office at 020 7383 6448 or mediaoffice@bma.org.uk. You can also follow @TheBMA on Twitter for updates.
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