Junior Doctors' Five-Day Strike Begins

Thousands of resident doctors across England are on strike again, marking the 13th time since March 2023 that they've walked out in a long-running dispute over pay. The latest walkout, which began on Friday morning, will last until 07:00 on Wednesday, and is expected to cause significant disruption to the NHS.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has strongly condemned the strikes, calling them “unnecessary” and “completely irresponsible.” He argues that the walkouts are harming patients and taxpayers, especially since resident doctors make up around half of the NHS medical workforce. Despite these concerns, NHS leaders are attempting to minimize disruptions, including shifting staff and offering overtime to senior doctors. However, the cost of covering the strike is estimated at £240 million, which will put additional pressure on the already strained NHS budget.

The main issue driving the strikes is pay. Resident doctors, who were previously known as junior doctors, are demanding a 26% pay rise to make up for years of inflation that have eroded their wages. Though there have been pay increases in recent years, the BMA insists that these haven't gone far enough to meet the true cost of living. The dispute intensified when the BMA turned down the government’s latest offer, which included covering out-of-pocket expenses like exam fees and offering more training placements for specialist doctors.

According to the British Medical Association (BMA), the pay for resident doctors is still significantly lower than in 2008 when adjusted for inflation. Dr. Tom Dolphin, chair of the BMA, stated, "We’ve got pay that is still a fifth down on the value that it had in 2008."

While the government maintains that a 29% pay increase over the past three years should be enough, the BMA argues that the pay gap remains wide compared to countries like Australia and Canada, where doctors earn significantly more. Dr. Dolphin said, "Salaries can be two, sometimes more times than what they are in the UK."

In addition to the ongoing strikes, there is growing concern that hospital consultants may soon join the action. The BMA’s consultants committee is currently negotiating with the Department of Health and Social Care over their own pay demands, seeking a 5.5% rise for 2025/26, 1.5% more than the 4% currently on the table. If an agreement is not reached by the end of the year, consultants are prepared to ballot for industrial action, which could lead to widespread disruptions in early 2026.

This potential escalation of strikes, particularly with consultants, would add even more pressure to the pressure already on the NHS, which is grappling with rising flu cases and historic waiting lists. NHS leaders have warned that further strikes could delay treatment for millions of patients and lead to more job cuts across the health service. "Further strikes would jeopardise the good progress being made in cutting waiting lists," said Matthew Taylor, CEO of the NHS Confederation.

The government has been equally firm in its stance, with Streeting accusing the BMA of pushing "unreasonable demands" and acting like a "cartel." He also pointed to a recent poll showing that almost half of resident doctors were against the strikes. However, the BMA remains resolute, with Dr. Dolphin insisting that the strikes are not just about pay but about addressing the underlying issues of workforce shortages and training bottlenecks.

The situation is reaching a critical point, with ongoing tensions between the government and healthcare workers, leaving patients to bear the brunt of the dispute. As the strikes continue, both sides will have to confront the reality of a healthcare system under immense pressure, with no clear end in sight.