A last-minute government pay rise offer and commitment to create 4,500 specialty training places has led to the British Medical Association (BMA) calling off a four-day resident doctor strike planned from Monday at 7am, until Friday at the same time.
Dr Jack Fletcher, chairman of the BMA had strongly advocated for more jobs for resident doctors, at a time when a rapid expansion of medical school places led to training places not keeping pace.
“All we have asked for is a fair offer that secures enough jobs to tackle the madness of doctor unemployment and take steps to address the erosion of our pay,” Dr Fletcher said.
The BMA will now take the offer, which includes an average 6.6 per cent pay increase to be fully implemented by April 2027, to its resident doctor members for approval.
It averted what would have been the 16th round of strikes since 2023 – and when the NHS faced a “triple whammy of pressure” because it coincided with warm weather and the World Cup.
