Health Secretary Wes Streeting is set to meet with the British Medical Association (BMA) next week in a last-ditch effort to prevent a new wave of resident doctor strike action across England’s NHS.
Resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, have announced a five-day strike from July 25 to July 30 in protest over stagnant pay and working conditions. The BMA said it remains open to negotiations and hopes the upcoming talks with Streeting will result in meaningful progress.
Doctors Call for Pay Restoration
Despite receiving an average 5.4% pay rise for the current financial year—effective from August—and a cumulative 22% increase over the past two years, resident doctors argue their real-terms pay remains about 20% below 2008 levels. They demand the government outline a clear roadmap to fully restore the value of their wages.
Dr Ross Nieuwoudt and Dr Melissa Ryan, co-chairs of the BMA resident doctors committee, welcomed the upcoming discussions. “We are glad the Secretary of State has taken us up on our offer and we look forward to constructive discussions,” they said. “Our hope is that we can make enough progress to suspend the planned strike.”
Government Stands Firm on Pay
The government insists it cannot improve its 5.4% offer. Health Department sources say Streeting is open to improving working conditions but will not revisit salary negotiations. The health secretary has called the planned strike “unnecessary and unreasonable,” warning that it could derail NHS progress in tackling waiting lists.
Growing Pressure on BMA
Lord Robert Winston, a renowned medical professor and pioneer of IVF treatment, resigned from the BMA over the strike announcement, expressing concern it could damage public trust in the medical profession. Meanwhile, new Ipsos polling reveals that public support for resident doctor strikes has dropped significantly—from 52% in June 2023 to just 26% in July 2025.
Resident doctors in England staged 11 separate strikes during 2023 and 2024. Unlike their counterparts in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, they negotiate salaries directly with Westminster.
Resident doctor salaries in England currently range between £37,000 and £70,000 annually for a standard 40-hour week, excluding bonuses for night and weekend shifts. The latest 5.4% increase will be reflected in pay packets starting in August.
