Thousands of junior doctors in England have walked out for their thirteenth round of industrial action since March 2023, creating fresh disruption for the NHS despite government opposition.
The Core of the Dispute
The strike began at 7am today and will continue until Tuesday, with the British Medical Association (BMA) maintaining that pay for medics remains "way down" compared to 2008 levels. The union is demanding a 26% pay uplift to restore earnings when accounting for inflation.
Dr Tom Dolphin, BMA chair, told Sky News that the dispute stems from years of pay erosion that has left junior doctors trailing behind other public sector workers. "When we started the dispute... the lowest level of the resident doctors were being paid £14 an hour," he stated.
Government Stands Firm
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has refused to budge on demands for a pay increase, pointing to last year's 29% settlement with junior doctors as one of the largest in the public sector. On social media, Streeting shared a Times poll suggesting 48% of junior doctors wanted the action called off, accusing the BMA of "unnecessary and irresponsible strikes."
The government maintains the previous settlement was intended to draw a line under two years of walkouts, but the BMA argues the offer didn't go far enough to address long-term pay erosion.
Impact on NHS Services
NHS leaders have issued stark warnings about the strike's potential consequences. During the last junior doctors' walkout, more than 54,000 procedures and appointments required cancellation or rescheduling, despite the NHS maintaining 93% of planned activity.
The NHS Confederation and NHS Providers have cautioned that continued industrial action could lead to reduced frontline staffing, fewer tests, and cancelled operations. They warn that patients may face longer waits for care, with some unable to work without necessary treatment.
NHS England has urged patients to continue attending planned appointments unless notified otherwise, while emergency services including 999 and A&E remain operational.
The Pay Figures Behind the Dispute
According to the Nuffield Trust, a doctor fresh from university now receives a basic salary of £38,831 in 2025/26, with average earnings reaching £45,900 when accounting for unsociable hours. This rises to £54,400 by the second year, while senior specialty registrars earn an average of £80,500.
The BMA emphasizes that when the dispute began, the most junior doctors were making approximately £14 per hour, equating to £29,120 annually for a 40-hour week - close to the £29,384 earned by newly qualified doctors in 2022/23.
The timing of this industrial action coincides with news that thousands of NHS job cuts will proceed after the Treasury approved £1 billion to fund redundancies, adding further tension to the ongoing dispute between medical professionals and the government.
