Resident doctors in England have voted to extend industrial action for another six months, the BMA has confirmed, due to ongoing pay and workforce disputes
The British Medical Association (BMA) reported strong support in a ballot to extend the mandate for industrial action by resident doctors for another six months, allowing further strikes into 2026 unless a deal is reached.
Reactions and responses to the strike extension
With 93% (or 26,696) of resident doctors voting yes on a turnout of 53%, the Resident Doctors Committee (RDC) is urging the Government to act immediately to prevent further strikes in the coming months.
RDC chair Dr Jack Fletcher addressed the situation: “This is not a problem the Government can wait out.
He continued: “Ministers cannot be shocked that 93% of doctors have voted to strike after being recommended a pay cut this year by the same health secretary who promised a journey to fair pay.
“And without thousands more training posts, the bottlenecks in medical training are going to continue to rob brilliant young doctors of their careers. Doctors have today clearly said that it is not acceptable.
“None of this needs to mean more strikes. In recent weeks, the Government has shown an improved approach in tone compared with the name-calling we saw late last year. A deal is there to be done: a new jobs package and an offer raising pay fairly over several years can be worked out through goodwill on both sides, in the interests of patients, staff and the whole NHS.
Dr Fletcher concluded: “And now that the mandate for strike action is confirmed for six months, the Government has nowhere to run and no means of running out the clock. With no choice but to get a deal, we hope that means a responsible approach from the health secretary and a timely settlement with no further need for strikes.”
Responding to the British Medical Association (BMA) announcing its resident doctor members have voted in favour of extending their mandate for industrial action until August 2026, Matthew Taylor, interim chief executive of the NHS Confederation and NHS Providers, said: “NHS leaders will be bitterly disappointed that resident doctors have voted to continue with industrial action, especially given the huge impact that strikes have had on patients and the health service’s performance and finances. Further strikes will pile yet more unplanned costs on NHS organisations, forcing health leaders to make difficult choices about reducing staff and patient services to balance their books.
Taylor continued: “The government and NHS are already working hard to improve the working lives of resident doctors, including introducing the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill. Health leaders would urge resident doctors to reflect on the impact of further industrial action on patients, the difficult financial backdrop we’re operating in, and the generous pay rise that has already been offered to them by the government before staging more walkouts.
He concluded: “We cannot let these strikes roll through 2026, using up yet more scarce resources and impeding the progress the NHS needs to make in reducing waiting lists. Health leaders need to see the government and BMA resume talks – through mediation if needed – to find a long-term solution to this dispute.”
