Resident Doctors Strikes: Six-Day Walkout Planned in England
What does the impending six-day strike by resident doctors in England mean for the healthcare system? The strike, which will commence at 7am on April 7 and conclude at 6:59 on April 13, comes after resident doctors rejected a final pay offer from the health secretary.
This marks the 15th industrial action by resident doctors in their ongoing campaign for full pay restoration. NHS leaders have warned that the strike could cost the health service an estimated £300 million.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has attributed the decision to strike to the government’s inadequate response to their demands. The core issue at stake revolves around pay progression, with the BMA seeking a 26% pay rise to address the erosion of real-terms salaries since 2008-09. In contrast, the government offered a mere 3.5% pay rise for the upcoming year.
The BMA announced the strike on March 25, 2026, following a series of negotiations that had initially shown promise. However, tensions escalated when the government indicated that it would take three years for doctors to receive the necessary funds, a move described as “the beginning of the end” by a BMA source.
Dr. Jack Fletcher, a representative of the resident doctors, noted that negotiations had been progressing well until the government began to shift its position two weeks prior to the strike announcement.
If the deal had been agreed upon, resident doctors would have collectively earned approximately £700 million over the next three years. The BMA has indicated that it would only consider reaching a deal if the government agrees to the full £700 million in the financial year starting next week.
Wes Streeting, the health secretary, expressed disappointment at the BMA’s decision to strike, stating, “The BMA’s move was enormously disappointing.” The impact of this strike on patient care and NHS operations remains uncertain, with further negotiations potentially on the horizon.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding whether additional discussions will take place before the strike begins.