The resident doctors strike in England is set to begin on 14 November 2025, as thousands of doctors prepare to walk out for five consecutive days in protest over jobs and pay conditions. The British Medical Association (BMA) confirmed that resident doctors, who represent nearly half of all NHS physicians, will strike from 7am on 14 November to 7am on 19 November, marking one of the longest industrial actions in NHS history.
Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s Resident Doctors Committee (RDC), said the decision to strike followed a breakdown in talks with the government. “This is not where we wanted to be,” Fletcher said. “We have spent the last week in talks with the health secretary, urging the government to end the scandal of doctors going unemployed. Our survey shows that half of second-year doctors in England are struggling to find jobs, their skills going to waste while millions of patients face long waits for treatment and hospitals operate with unfilled shifts.”
He added that the BMA had proposed a deal to gradually reverse real-term pay cuts over several years, suggesting a modest pay rise of around £1 per hour for newly trained doctors across four years. “We hoped the government would recognise that our proposals are both reasonable and in the public interest, helping retain skilled doctors in the NHS and improving patient care,” Fletcher said.
A Deepening NHS Crisis
The strike highlights a growing crisis within the NHS workforce. Resident doctors — previously known as junior doctors — have up to eight years’ experience in hospital practice or up to three years in general practice. Despite their critical role, many are facing unemployment or are leaving the profession due to stagnant pay and limited opportunities.
The BMA argues that this workforce shortfall is worsening patient backlogs, as thousands of qualified doctors remain jobless while hospitals face record waiting lists. The latest NHS data shows that more than 7.8 million patients are waiting for elective procedures — the highest figure since records began.
Government Response and Public Impact
The UK Department of Health and Social Care said it was “deeply disappointed” by the strike announcement, claiming the action would further strain hospital services ahead of the winter season. However, the BMA maintains that the strike is a last resort following years of unmet promises on pay restoration and recruitment reform.
During previous industrial actions earlier this year, hospitals were forced to cancel thousands of appointments and operations. Health leaders warn that the upcoming November strike could cause even greater disruption, particularly to emergency and outpatient services.
Ongoing Negotiations and Wider Context
The resident doctors’ strike comes amid a year of widespread industrial unrest in the NHS, following walkouts by consultants, nurses, and ambulance workers over similar pay disputes. Despite a series of temporary pay deals, unions say real-terms salaries have fallen by more than 25% since 2008.
The BMA is urging the government to take immediate steps to resolve the jobs crisis by expanding training placements, creating new posts, and ensuring fair pay progression for doctors.
Fletcher warned that without reform, “more doctors will leave the NHS for better conditions abroad, deepening the staffing emergency.”
With the UN binding treaty on global health workforce sustainability being signed this month, many experts argue that the UK must urgently align its domestic health policies with its international commitments to protect medical workers’ rights.
