Resident doctors cancel June strike after new
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- BMA called off resident doctor strikes in England set for 15-19 June after the government made a last-minute new offer that the union will put to its members for a vote.
- Health Secretary James Murray said the offer was a "chance to draw a line under the damaging disputes of recent years" while government sources confirmed there is no extra pay money for this year — only faster pay scale increases next year.
- The offer also includes 4,500 extra training places for newly qualified doctors and a promise to cover doctors' exam fees.
- NHS England said 95% of operations and appointments would still go ahead, but thousands have already been postponed and reinstating them on the original timetable is described as a "tough task" for hospitals.
- Resident doctors have received 33% pay rises over four years including 3.5% this year — starting salaries now just over £40,000 — but the BMA argues they remain a fifth less well paid than in 2008 once inflation is factored in.
- The cancelled walkout would have been the 16th in a long-running dispute stretching back to 2023; the most recent was a six-day strike in April after members rejected a previous offer.
Why it matters: The cancelled walkout would have been the 16th strike in a pay dispute stretching to 2023. NHS England said 95% of appointments would still go ahead, but thousands were already postponed and reinstating them is a "tough task." The deal offers faster future pay rises and 4,500 training places but no new money this year.
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