Resident doctors in England will proceed with a five-day strike starting Wednesday, defying government appeals to call off industrial action during what the NHS describes as a "worst-case scenario" of record flu admissions and winter pressures.
The British Medical Association confirmed the walkout will begin at 7am on Wednesday after 83 percent of members voted to continue the strike, rejecting a government offer that included expanding specialist training posts and covering exam fees but provided no additional pay. The decision marks the 14th strike by resident doctors since 2023.
The timing comes as NHS hospitals face unprecedented flu numbers for this season. During the second week of December, 2,660 patients were hospitalised daily with flu - a 55 percent increase on the previous week. More than half of NHS hospitals are experiencing their worst-ever flu numbers for this time of year.
Government calls strike "irresponsible"
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the strike as "irresponsible action," telling reporters: «It's irresponsible at any time, particularly at the moment. It comes on the back of a very substantial pay increase in the last year or so.»
Health minister Stephen Kinnock went further, telling Times Radio: «For reasons best known to themselves, they have insisted on going ahead with this strike action right in the heart of the Christmas season, and that I think is dangerous, reckless and irresponsible.»
Kinnock argued that resident doctors had already received a 29 percent pay rise and criticized demands for 26 percent more. «Most reasonable, fair-minded people would be looking at this and saying: 'Well, if I got a 29% pay rise, I would not be coming back a few months later asking for 26% more',» he said on Times Radio.
Union defends strike decision
Dr. Shivam Sharma, deputy chairman of the BMA's resident doctors committee, rejected claims that patients would die as a result of the strike. Speaking on LBC Radio, he said: «I would completely disagree with that, and I want to be evidence-based – we know that senior colleagues, consultants will be covering this strike action, and we know that studies have shown that mortality rates do not increase, they stay the same, if not decrease during strike action.»
The BMA maintains that despite recent pay rises, resident doctors' salaries remain a fifth lower than in 2008 when adjusted for inflation. The union stated the government's latest offer «doesn't go far enough on both jobs and pay.»
NHS faces "worst-case scenario"
Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS national medical director, warned: «With record demand for A&E and ambulances and an impending resident doctors strike, this unprecedented wave of super flu is leaving the NHS facing a worst-case scenario for this time of year – with staff being pushed to the limit.»
Hospitals are targeting 95 percent of usual activity during the strike, though health leaders acknowledge this will be "more challenging" given winter pressures. The strike will run until 7am Monday, leaving just two full working days before Christmas.
George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton has advised patients to attend scheduled appointments unless contacted otherwise, while urging people to use 111 services appropriately and reserve 999 for life-threatening emergencies only.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
