World

Resident doctors in England to strike next month

By AAP Newswire

May 28, 2026

Demonstrators hold placards supporting resident doctors — A union is warning of even more walkouts by resident doctors amid a dispute with the government. -AP

Resident doctors in England are set to stage a four-day ‌strike in June, according to their union, saying ‌newly appointed health minister James Murray has not improved a pay offer they had previously rejected.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

The walkout is due to run from June 15 to June 19, the British Medical Association said, warning ‌further strike ‌dates could follow ⁠in July if there was no progress in talks.

Resident doctors - formerly known as junior doctors - have carried out repeated strikes since early 2023 in a campaign focused on reversing historical pay erosion and relieving staffing pressures across the National Health Service.

"We ⁠are hearing the same ‌tired line: vagueness on new jobs and no further money on the table," said Jack ‌Fletcher, chair of the union's resident doctor committee.

In April, doctors staged a six-day strike after rejecting a government proposal, which ministers said would not be improved upon.

The union argued that deal failed to address years of below-inflation pay rises and ‌workforce shortages.

Murray said the BMA pay demands were "unrealistic, unaffordable and unsustainable" in light of previous large increases.

"These are simply not grounds for yet more strike action, which patients do not support, puts further pressure on other staff and costs the NHS hundreds of millions of pounds," ⁠he said.