Junior Doctors’ / Resident Doctors’ Strikes (2023–2026)

This is one of the highest-yield NHS hot topics for medicine interviews because it combines:

NHS workforce pressures
medical ethics
professionalism
patient safety
NHS funding
public trust
doctor wellbeing
health policy

The strikes are also highly relevant to understanding why many doctors are leaving the NHS and why waiting lists remain high.

Key Terminology

Junior Doctors vs Resident Doctors

In 2024, the British Medical Association officially began using the term “resident doctors” instead of “junior doctors.”

However:

both terms are still commonly used
interviewers may use either phrase

A resident doctor is:

Any doctor below consultant or GP level who is still in postgraduate training.

This includes:

FY1/FY2 doctors
specialty trainees
registrars

Timeline of Major Strike Events

Background Before the Strikes

2008–2022

Doctors argue that NHS pay failed to keep up with inflation for over a decade.

The BMA claims:

resident doctors experienced major real-terms pay erosion
inflation rose faster than salaries
workload increased significantly

This became worse after:

COVID-19
staffing shortages
NHS backlogs
burnout crisis

Origins of the Dispute

2021 — “DoctorsVote” Movement

A grassroots campaign called DoctorsVote formed online.

Goals:

restore pay
improve conditions
organise industrial action

The movement gained strong support among younger doctors. (BMA)

Key Strike Dates (Very Important)

2023 Strike Dates

Strike Period	Length
13–16 March 2023	72 hours
11–15 April 2023	96 hours
14–16 June 2023	72 hours
13–18 July 2023	5 days
20–23 September 2023	3 days
2–4 October 2023	3 days
20–23 December 2023	3 days

2024 Strike Dates

Strike Period	Length
3–9 January 2024	6 days
24–28 February 2024	5 days
July 2024	Election-period strike

Following negotiations with the new Labour government, doctors voted to accept a pay deal in September 2024. (BMA)

2025 Strike Dates

Industrial action resumed after disagreements over:

pay restoration
training bottlenecks
job security
workforce planning

Strike Period	Length
25–30 July 2025	5 days
14–19 November 2025	5 days
17–22 December 2025	5 days

Why Are Doctors Striking?

There are now two major issues.

1. Pay Restoration

What Does “Pay Restoration” Mean?

Doctors argue that:

their salary has not kept pace with inflation
their “real purchasing power” has fallen

The BMA argues resident doctors experienced over 20% real-terms pay loss since 2008. (The Guardian)

Understanding Real-Terms Pay

Example:

If:

salary rises by 2%
inflation rises by 10%

then:

you are effectively poorer

This is called:

Real-terms pay erosion

Approximate Real-Terms NHS Pay Change Since 2010

NHS salaries drop in real terms

Approximate Pay Falls by Staff Group

NHS Staff Group	Approx Real-Terms Change Since 2010
Support workers	~-2% to -4%
Nurses	~-5% to -9%
Midwives	~-10% to -14%
Junior/Resident Doctors	~-8% to -14%
Consultants	~-11% to -15%

Why This Matters

Doctors say low pay contributes to:

burnout
low morale
emigration abroad
staff shortages
reduced NHS retention

Common destinations for UK doctors:

Australia
New Zealand
Canada

Current Resident Doctor Pay Scales (England)

The 2024 deal significantly increased salaries. (BMA)

2024–25 Pay Scales

Training Level	Approx Salary
FY1 (Nodal Point 1)	~£36,600
FY2/Core Training	~£42,000
Specialty Registrar	~£49,900
Senior Registrar	£60,000–70,000+

These figures exclude:

night shifts
weekends
overtime
London weighting

Pay Scale Graph

Approx Basic Pay Growth After Deal

2022–23 2024–25

FY1

£29k → £36.6k

FY2

£34k → £42k

Registrar

£40k → £49.9k

Senior Registrar

£51k → £61.8k

(BMA)

Percentage Pay Increases

2023–24 Deal

Average increase:

~13.2%

(backdated)

2024–25 Deal

Additional increase:

6% + £1000

Combined total:

~22.3% over two years

(The Doctor)

2. The Training & Jobs Crisis

This became one of the biggest NHS issues by 2025.

What Is Happening?

After foundation training:

many doctors cannot get specialty training jobs
competition ratios are extremely high

Example:

tens of thousands apply
limited training posts available

This means doctors may:

remain in temporary jobs
work as locums
leave the NHS
emigrate abroad

Why Is This Dangerous?

If doctors cannot progress:

fewer consultants are trained
GP shortages worsen
NHS staffing gaps increase

This threatens:

future NHS sustainability
patient access to care

Ethical Issues

This topic is extremely valuable for:

UCAT SJT
MMI stations
ethics interviews

The Four Pillars of Medical Ethics

1. Beneficence

Doctors should help patients.

Problem:

strikes delay treatment

2. Non-Maleficence

“Do no harm.”

Question:

do strikes indirectly harm patients?

3. Justice

Fairness and equality.

Doctors argue:

fair pay is ethically necessary
unsafe staffing is unjust

4. Autonomy

Doctors also have rights:

employment rights
right to protest
right to safe conditions

Arguments Supporting the Strikes

Better Retention

Poor conditions drive doctors away from the NHS.

Burnout Threatens Patient Safety

Exhausted doctors:

make more mistakes
experience poorer mental health

Long-Term NHS Protection

Supporters argue:

Short-term disruption prevents long-term collapse.

Emergency Care Continues

During strikes:

A&E remains staffed
intensive care remains staffed
emergency cover exists

Arguments Against the Strikes

Delayed Care

Operations and clinics are cancelled.

Public Trust Concerns

Some believe:

Doctors should never strike.

NHS Backlogs Worsen

The NHS already faces:

long waiting lists
bed shortages
staffing crises

Media Controversy

Coverage has been politically divisive.

Some newspapers portrayed doctors as:

“militant”
unreasonable
politically motivated

Doctors argued:

coverage was unfair
pay concerns were misunderstood

Government Position

The UK government argued:

large pay rises are unaffordable
public sector pay must remain controlled
strikes damage NHS recovery

Health Secretary Wes Streeting criticised renewed strikes in 2025 as unnecessary after major pay increases. (The Guardian)

Impact on Patients

Effects of Strikes

During strikes:

elective operations postponed
outpatient appointments cancelled
consultants cover emergency work

Potential consequences:

longer waiting times
anxiety for patients
delayed diagnoses

NHS Waiting Lists

This connects strongly to:

NHS backlog crisis
winter pressures
bed shortages

These are all linked NHS hot topics.

Comparison With the 2016 Strikes

2016	2023–2026
Focused on contracts	Focused on pay + workforce
Concern over unsafe hours	Concern over retention
Less social media influence	Strong online organisation
Smaller workforce crisis	Severe staffing shortages

Important Organisations

British Medical Association

Trade union representing doctors.

NHS England

Runs NHS services in England.

General Medical Council

Regulates doctors professionally.

Questions and Answers

Common Questions

Is it ethical for doctors to strike?
Should NHS workers strike?
Do you support the strikes?
Why are doctors leaving the NHS?
How can retention improve?
What is pay restoration?
How do strikes affect patient safety?
What is the training bottleneck crisis?

1. What are the junior doctor strikes about?

Answer:
The junior doctor strikes are industrial action taken by resident doctors in the NHS, mainly in response to pay erosion, working conditions, and concerns about recruitment and retention. The dispute has centred on restoring real-terms pay lost over time and improving safe staffing levels. Strikes are organised by the BMA and usually maintain emergency care provision.

2. Is it ethical for doctors to strike?

Answer:
It is ethically complex. Doctors have a primary duty to patients, but also a duty to ensure safe working conditions that enable safe care. If poor staffing, fatigue, and burnout threaten patient safety, advocating for change becomes an ethical obligation. Striking is generally considered a last resort when negotiations fail, and safeguards are in place to maintain urgent care.

3. How do strikes impact patients?

Answer:
Strikes can lead to cancellation of elective procedures, delayed outpatient care, and increased pressure on emergency departments. However, life-threatening and emergency care is prioritised, with senior cover maintained. While disruption is unavoidable, systems are put in place to minimise harm.

4. What are the arguments for junior doctors striking?

Answer:

Pay erosion compared with inflation
Unsafe staffing levels and burnout
Recruitment and retention problems
Impact on morale and training quality
Long-term patient safety concerns due to workforce instability

5. What are the arguments against striking?

Answer:

Delays in patient care and elective surgery
Increased pressure on emergency services
Public perception and trust issues
Ethical concern about abandoning patients
Financial and operational strain on the NHS

6. What would you do if you were rostered during a strike?

Answer:
I would follow NHS trust guidance, ensure safe handover of patients, prioritise emergency and high-risk cases, and work closely with senior staff. Clear communication, escalation of concerns, and maintaining patient safety would be my priorities. I would also ensure documentation and teamwork remain robust under pressure.

7. How would you explain a cancelled operation to a patient?

Answer:
I would apologise clearly and empathetically, explain that the cancellation is due to industrial action affecting staffing levels, reassure them that urgent cases are still prioritised, and arrange a new date as soon as possible. I would acknowledge inconvenience and ensure they understand their ongoing care plan.

8. What is the government’s role in the dispute?

Answer:
The government sets pay policy and negotiates with the BMA, often guided by the DDRB (pay review body). Its role is to balance fiscal constraints with maintaining a sustainable healthcare workforce. Effective resolution requires negotiation and long-term workforce planning rather than repeated cycles of dispute.

9. What ethical principles are involved?

Answer:

Beneficence: acting in patients’ best interests
Non-maleficence: avoiding harm from unsafe staffing
Justice: fair pay and resource allocation
Duty of care: maintaining essential services
Professional integrity: advocating for safe systems

10. What is your personal view on strikes?

Answer:
I recognise the tension between patient care and workforce welfare. While strikes cause disruption, they reflect deeper systemic issues that may themselves compromise patient safety. I would support constructive resolution through negotiation, with industrial action as a last resort while ensuring emergency care continues.

11.“Do you support the resident doctor strikes?”

Answer:

I think the issue is extremely complex because there are valid concerns on both sides.

On one hand, doctors deserve fair pay, safe working conditions, and sustainable career progression. Poor retention and burnout can ultimately harm patient care if experienced staff leave the NHS.

However, strikes can also delay treatment and increase pressure on hospitals, so patient safety must remain the priority.

I think it is important that emergency care continues to be protected during industrial action, while the government and medical unions work collaboratively toward long-term workforce solutions.

High-Yield Summary for Interviews

One-Line Summary

The resident doctor strikes reflect the tension between protecting patient care today and preserving a sustainable NHS workforce for the future.

Statistics Worth Remembering

Useful Numbers