NHS hospitals across England are facing significant disruption as resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, have commenced a five-day walkout. The strike, which began at 7am on November 14, 2025, and is set to last until 7am on November 19, marks the 13th such action in a long-running pay dispute that started in March 2023.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has strongly criticised the move, branding the British Medical Association (BMA) a 'cartel' and describing the strikes as 'preposterous', 'unreasonable and unnecessary'. The walkout is expected to place hospitals under immense strain, given that resident doctors constitute around half of the medical workforce.
Roots of the Pay Dispute
The core of the conflict lies in a fundamental disagreement over pay restoration. While the government points to a 28.9% pay rise for resident doctors over the last three years, the BMA contends that wages are still 20% lower in real terms than they were in 2008.
The strike was called after a meeting between the BMA and Mr Streeting was described as 'disappointing but not unredeemable'. Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA's resident doctors committee, expressed frustration, stating, 'This is not where we wanted to be.' He explained that the union had proposed a multi-year deal to gradually reverse pay cuts, which would have given newly trained doctors a pay increase of just a pound an hour for the next four years.
'We talked with the Government in good faith... While we want to get such a deal done, the Government seemingly does not, leaving us with little option but to call for strike action,' Dr Fletcher said. He cited 'better employment prospects and restoring pay' as credible solutions the government could pursue.
Government Stance and Patient Impact
In response, Wes Streeting argued that the government 'cannot go further on pay this year' and accused the BMA of 'reckless posturing'. He claimed the union was 'blocking a better deal for doctors' by walking away from an offer to improve working conditions and create more speciality training roles. He also asserted that the strikes lack public support and that a majority of resident doctors did not vote for them.
Despite the walkout, NHS England has stated that patients should still attend appointments unless told otherwise. The health service aims to keep 95% of non-urgent work, such as knee operations, running. To fill the gaps, consultants and other senior doctors will be offered overtime, a measure expected to cost around £240 million to fully cover the rota.
However, the potential for disruption and cancellations remains high, mirroring the impact of previous strikes which led to thousands of postponed appointments. Patients are being advised to expect possible rescheduling.
A Call to Resume Talks
Both sides appear to be at an impasse. The BMA has repeatedly called for a mandated multi-year pay deal, while the government maintains its current offer is final. Mr Streeting has urged the BMA to 'call off these needless strikes and come back to the table,' emphasising that they have 'a Government that wants to work with them.'
With the five-day strike now underway, the focus shifts to the immediate impact on NHS services and whether renewed negotiations can prevent further industrial action in the future.
