Sign in Subscribe
Physicians

Resident Doctors in England to Strike for 5 Days in Search of 29% Pay Rise

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Resident doctors working in the NHS in England will go on strike for 5 days in July, their union, the British Medical Association (BMA), announced, in a bid to secure a 29% pay rise. This move has been met with criticism from Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who described the action as "completely unreasonable". The strike, set to take place from Friday 25 July to Wednesday 31 July, has raised concerns about the impact on patients, with thousands of appointments and operations likely to be cancelled.

Key Takeaways:

  • The BMA wants a 29% pay rise for England's 77,000 resident doctors, citing the need to restore their pay levels after a 28.9% rise over three years.
  • The union claims that ministers' refusal to consider further increasing the 5.4% pay rise has made strike action unavoidable.
  • Health Secretary Wes Streeting has denounced the strike as "completely unreasonable" and accused the BMA of undermining the NHS recovery.
  • The strike has been planned for 5 days, with the withdrawal of labour starting on Friday 25 July and resuming on Wednesday 31 July.
  • NHS Employers' Danny Mortimer warned of a "huge impact" on the NHS and its patients, with thousands of cancelled appointments and operations likely.
  • The BMA has claimed that fewer than half of eligible resident doctors (53,766) voted to walk out, with a turnout of 55% in the strike ballot.
  • A Downing Street spokesperson expressed disappointment at the move, citing the majority of BMA resident doctors not voting for strikes.

Statistics:

  • 77,000: the number of resident doctors in England affected by the strike.
  • 5.4%: the pay rise secured for 2023-24 and 2024-25.
  • 28.9%: the total rise in pay over three years.
  • 29%: the pay rise sought by the BMA for England's resident doctors.
  • 7am: the time when resident doctors will withdraw their labour and when they will return to work.
  • 2023-24 and 2024-25: the years for which a 22% pay rise was secured in a deal with Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
  • 53,766: the number of resident doctors eligible to take part in the strike ballot.
  • 55%: the turnout in the strike ballot.
  • 90%: the percentage of those who took part in the strike ballot voting to back strike action.

Sources:

  • The Guardian, 12 July 2023
  • BBC News, 12 July 2023
  • The Times, 12 July 2023
  • NHS Employers statement, 12 July 2023
  • BMA statement, 12 July 2023
  • Downing Street spokesperson, 12 July 2023
  • Daniel Elkeles, Chief Executive of NHS Providers, 12 July 2023

Read more