Starting this morning, tens of thousands of resident doctors (formerly known as junior doctors) in England have launched a six-day strike. The action runs from 7:00 AM on April 7 to 6:59 AM on April 13 and is set to be one of the longest in an ongoing multi-year dispute with the UK government over pay and working conditions.
The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents doctors, announced the strike after its resident doctors committee rejected the government’s latest offer. Ministers had proposed salary increases (averaging around 4.9% including reforms), additional training programme places (approximately 1,000 new positions), and improved working conditions. However, the BMA deemed the offer insufficient and refused to put it to a member vote. In response, the government withdrew the package, including the new training places.
Resident doctors are demanding full restoration of their real-wage levels, which they say have fallen significantly over the past 15–16 years due to inflation. They are seeking a rise of around 26% to return to 2008 levels. Negotiations with Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Keir Starmer’s government have reached an impasse. This is already the 15th strike by resident doctors in England since March 2023.
NHS England has warned of serious disruption to hospital services, with thousands of planned operations, appointments, and procedures set to be cancelled or postponed. Emergency care will continue to be provided, but patients are being advised to seek help only in cases of genuine urgent need. NHS leadership expressed disappointment at the BMA’s decision and warned that similar strikes could recur monthly throughout 2026.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously gave the union 48 hours to call off the action, stating that patients would “pay the price” for what he called “reckless” behaviour. The BMA, in turn, has accused the government of “moving the goalposts” at the last moment and failing to honour its funding commitments.
The strike coincides with a separate protest by BMA staff members. Both sides say they are open to further negotiations, but no compromise has yet been reached.
The strike once again highlights the deep crisis within the UK’s National Health Service. Although the action is officially taking place in England only, it affects the largest part of the UK healthcare system and has a serious impact on patients across the country. In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, pay and working conditions for resident doctors are governed separately, but the nationwide staffing shortages and pressure on the NHS are felt everywhere.