Junior doctors demand 29% pay rise to avoid another wave of strikes that could disrupt NHS services this summer. The British Medical Association (BMA) says restoring pay to 2008 levels is essential to retain doctors and end staffing crises.
Ballots for new industrial action began arriving this week. The vote follows backlash over the government’s latest pay offer—a 4% rise with an extra £750 for resident doctors. Critics say this falls far short of reversing over a decade of real-terms pay cuts.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting urged doctors not to vote for strikes. He warned that new walkouts could stall NHS recovery efforts. “The NHS is finally on the road to recovery. Please don’t reverse that progress,” he said.
However, the BMA argues the system cannot wait for better fiscal conditions. Junior doctors demand 29% pay rise to match inflation-adjusted figures from 2008. Union leaders say the current pay structure drives doctors out of the profession or even the country.
The strike ballot closes on July 7. If approved, strike action could take place anytime between July and January 2026. Last year, junior doctors staged 44 days of industrial action before receiving a 22% uplift. This year brought another 5.4% increase.
Still, doctors say their pay has dropped 23% in real terms since 2008. Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt, co-chairs of the BMA committee, say the government’s latest offer is inadequate. “At this rate, it would take over a decade to restore our pay.”
They added, “Too many patients are being treated in corridors. Too many can’t see a GP. The NHS cannot afford to delay this any longer.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves, already facing pressure from police and security leaders ahead of next week’s spending review, must now address this growing pay row. The fiscal rules set by her government may face their toughest test yet.
Junior doctors demand 29% pay rise not only to protect their livelihoods but also to preserve the future of the NHS. The government insists strikes must remain a last resort.
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