First-year doctors in England may strike, as over half of resident doctors face unemployment, exposing a major NHS workforce crisis
First-year doctors in England are being balloted for industrial action amid what the BMA calls a “scandal” of NHS unemployment. Over 50% of FY2 resident doctors currently have no secured positions, raising serious concerns about workforce planning and patient care. The move puts pressure on the Government to urgently expand speciality training posts and create clear career pathways for resident doctors.
Resident doctors to confirm strike action by October 6th
The British Medical Association (BMA) has confirmed a ballot for strike action opened on Monday, September 8th, for resident doctors in their first year of employment. The association is demanding that the Government fix the ongoing unemployment crisis affecting resident doctors.
In a recent BMA survey, 34% of resident doctors reported having no substantive employment or regular locum work as of August 2025. This rose to more than half (52%) among FY2 doctors (Foundation Year Two).
Following these figures, the resident doctors will decide if they are willing to take industrial action to pressure the Government into providing a plan to increase the number of training places. The ballot will close on October 6th.
BMA resident doctors committee (RDC) co-chairs Dr Ross Nieuwoudt and Dr Melissa Ryan said: “It is a scandal that in a country so sorely in need of more doctors, we cannot find enough jobs for them. Thousands of doctors have been left in career limbo while patients desperately need them, not just now but to build the workforce that will look after them decades into the future.
“The Government has so far only produced a plan to create 1,000 new specialty training posts over the next three years. However, this year saw more than 20,000 fewer posts than doctors applied for.
“While we continue to discuss with the Government how to restore our diminished pay and increase the value of doctors, we also have to make sure there are still jobs for our colleagues to go to. The Government has the opportunity to set out a plan for both sufficient pay and employment to restore the NHS workforce for the next generation.
“We are urging all first-year doctors to vote yes to tell the Government to get moving on it.”
The NHS Confederation responds to the potential strike
Responding to the British Medical Association (BMA) announcing first-year doctors in England will be balloted over whether to take industrial action, Rory Deighton, acute and community director at the NHS Confederation, said:
“The last thing NHS leaders want is the spectre of more strikes in the run-up to winter. Further walk-outs will make it even more challenging to manage the spike in seasonal viruses and staff sickness. Ultimately, it is patients who will bear the brunt of the impact of further industrial action, with more cancelled appointments and operations leaving people waiting longer for the care they need.
“It is deeply disappointing that the BMA has chosen to ballot its members on whether to take industrial action while talks with the Government are ongoing. We appreciate that there are genuine concerns around resident doctors’ education and training. Still, we would urge them to attempt to settle these at the negotiating table, not through industrial action.”
