England doctors call off planned strike after last-minute government offer

Resident doctors in England have suspended a planned four-day strike after the UK government presented a last-minute offer concerning pay, jobs, and career progression. The British Medical Association (BMA) announced the decision on Saturday, stating that the industrial action, originally set to begin Monday, would be called off. This strike would have been the 16th by resident doctors since 2023 amid an ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions within the National Health Service (NHS).

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We have always been clear that no strikes needed to go ahead if we received an offer appropriate to put to our members.

Dr. Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA's resident doctors committee, confirmed that the union would put the revised government proposal to its members in a referendum. He emphasized that strikes are unnecessary if an appropriate offer is made. Fletcher cautioned, however, that industrial action could resume as early as next month if members reject the deal.

The proposal, according to union and government officials, does not include additional funding for the current year's pay settlement beyond the announced 3.5% rise. Instead, it offers faster progression through future pay scales, approximately 4,500 additional training posts for newly qualified doctors, coverage of professional exam fees, and further salary increases projected to bring average pay growth to 6.6% by April 2027. Government sources indicated that all funding would be sourced from existing NHS budgets.

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It is a positive and welcome development that the BMA have called off these unnecessary strikes.

Health Secretary James Murray welcomed the strike suspension, calling it an opportunity for "industrial peace." He stated the country cannot afford to increase this year's pay offer but expressed pleasure that the BMA recognized this, allowing progress in other areas like training and working conditions. Despite these developments, the BMA argues that doctors' earnings remain nearly 20% lower in real terms than in 2008, after accounting for inflation.

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The country simply cannot afford to increase the pay offer for this year. I am pleased that the BMA have recognised this, which has allowed us to make progress in other areas, such as training places and working conditions.