"UK's Resident Doctors Set to Embark on Christmas Strike as Pay and Job Security Dispute Escalates"
Thousands of doctors in England are poised to go on strike from December 17 to 22, in their fight against the government's pay cuts and job insecurity. This will be the 14th strike by medical professionals since March 2023, with previous strikes already causing significant disruptions to healthcare services.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has warned that resident doctors are being driven away from jobs due to the government's failure to address their concerns over pay and job security. "With the government failing to put forward a credible plan to fix the jobs crisis for resident doctors at the same time as pushing a real-terms pay cut, we have no choice but to announce more strike dates," said Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA's resident doctors committee.
Resident doctors are seeking a 26% pay increase over several years to compensate for the erosion in their pay since 2008, due to inflation. However, the government has proposed a real-terms pay cut, which the BMA says will not address the underlying issue. The union is also concerned about the restricted availability of training places, with thousands of doctors struggling to secure spots.
The upcoming strike is part of an ongoing dispute between the medical profession and the government over pay, job security, and working conditions. Previous strikes have resulted in significant financial losses for the NHS, including £300m last summer, and have caused more than 1.5m outpatient appointments and surgeries to be rescheduled.
The BMA has announced a ballot among its resident doctor members, which will run from December 8 to February 2. The union is urging its members to show the government that they will not be ignored, with the ballot aiming to extend the strike mandate until August 2026.
Thousands of doctors in England are poised to go on strike from December 17 to 22, in their fight against the government's pay cuts and job insecurity. This will be the 14th strike by medical professionals since March 2023, with previous strikes already causing significant disruptions to healthcare services.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has warned that resident doctors are being driven away from jobs due to the government's failure to address their concerns over pay and job security. "With the government failing to put forward a credible plan to fix the jobs crisis for resident doctors at the same time as pushing a real-terms pay cut, we have no choice but to announce more strike dates," said Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA's resident doctors committee.
Resident doctors are seeking a 26% pay increase over several years to compensate for the erosion in their pay since 2008, due to inflation. However, the government has proposed a real-terms pay cut, which the BMA says will not address the underlying issue. The union is also concerned about the restricted availability of training places, with thousands of doctors struggling to secure spots.
The upcoming strike is part of an ongoing dispute between the medical profession and the government over pay, job security, and working conditions. Previous strikes have resulted in significant financial losses for the NHS, including £300m last summer, and have caused more than 1.5m outpatient appointments and surgeries to be rescheduled.
The BMA has announced a ballot among its resident doctor members, which will run from December 8 to February 2. The union is urging its members to show the government that they will not be ignored, with the ballot aiming to extend the strike mandate until August 2026.
I think it's kinda harsh on the gov't that they're being held hostage by the docs over pay and job security... I mean, the NHS is already struggling to cope, can't the docs just take a slight cut in their own wages to keep things running? 
I know some docs are feeling pretty low-paid compared to other professions, but 26% seems like a pretty big ask... maybe they should've negotiated better instead of going on strike? 
The gov't does have a point about not wanting to set a precedent for further pay demands. It's all about finding that balance, innit? 
I'm so worried about our NHS, you know? Like, we're already struggling to get decent healthcare and now they're making resident doctors go on strike 
? It's like, how can they expect them to keep working if their pay isn't even keeping pace with inflation? And don't even get me started on the training places 
- thousands of docs are struggling to get a spot and that's just not right.
. And what about all those cancelled appointments and surgeries? That's just devastating 
. We need our NHS to be stable, not struggling because of politics 
. Can we get a pay rise for resident docs that keeps up with inflation without it feeling like they're getting ripped off? 
I'm so worried about these doctors going on strike again... I mean, who wants to take a break from work during Christmas? 
It's like, I get why they're upset about their pay and job security, but can't we find a way to compromise or something? 
I hope they get the deal they want soon, but this strike is really stressing me out 
about this pay cut stuff... Resident docs are literally burning out over here 
. They're fighting for a fair wage and decent job security, but it feels like no one's listening 
. I mean, 26% pay increase is not too much to ask, right? 
. Can't we just find a solution that benefits everyone? 
This Christmas strike is gonna be a real nightmare for patients 
.
. This is like taking a step back in time 
! And to make matters worse, there's a lack of training places, with thousands of docs struggling to get spots 
! The BMA wants its members to know they won't be ignored 
.
. The point is, these docs are essential to our healthcare system and we need them to stay 
.
. It feels like everyone's just shouting at each other without listening 
. Can't they find a way to work together and fix this mess? 
. all this talk of pay and job security is just makin' me wonder if we really appreciate the people who keep us healthy in the first place 
, can't believe these docs are having to go on strike again over pay and job security... like, shouldn't it be a given that healthcare workers get fair treatment? 
And the fact that they're struggling to find training spots is just crazy... I mean, we need more people in med school, not fewer! 
Interesting 
. It's not just about the money tho, it's like, job security too... I've got family members who are docs and they're literally stressing out about their futures 
My aunt's a doctor and she's been stressing about this for ages. I just hope they can sort something out before it affects patient care 
.