Resident doctors in England and Wales have commenced their 15th strike over pay, initiating a six-day walkout that follows a series of industrial actions spread across three years. The strike, organized by the British Medical Association (BMA), reflects ongoing disputes over pay and working conditions within the National Health Service (NHS). The cumulative impact of these strikes has been substantial, with the financial cost to the NHS estimated to exceed £3 billion.

The current action comes amid calls from Conservative politicians to consider new legal measures to restrict healthcare workers’ ability to strike. Kemi Badenoch, a leading Conservative figure, has advocated for banning doctors’ strikes, aligning their employment conditions with those of the police and armed forces, where strike action is prohibited. She criticized the BMA for what she described as holding the country “to ransom” and urged the implementation of minimum service levels during strikes to mitigate disruption to patient care.

Wes Streeting, the Labour health secretary, acknowledged the complexity of the situation while refraining from definitively ruling out a ban on doctors’ strikes. Speaking on a national broadcaster’s program, he noted that while the right to strike is an important labor right, certain public sector workers are already barred from striking. He emphasized that the government has not yet removed that right for doctors but did not exclude it as a future possibility. Streeting highlighted his preferred approach of negotiation, citing a recent proposed deal that would have increased doctors’ pay by an average of 35.2% over four years, reimbursed mandatory examination fees, and created thousands of additional specialty training positions—an offer the BMA has rejected.

NHS England’s chief executive, Sir Jim Mackey, expressed frustration over the timing of the strike, which began after the Easter holiday period when staff availability is typically reduced. Sir Jim described the action as deliberately planned to cause maximum disruption and acknowledged the strain placed on staff covering services during the walkout.

Public opinion appears to be shifting, with recent surveys indicating that a majority of British adults oppose the current strikes. According to polling data, 55% of respondents are against the industrial action by resident doctors, while 37% support it.

The BMA has defended the strikes as necessary, citing real-terms pay shortfalls compared to levels from nearly two decades ago when adjusted for inflation. Dr. Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA resident doctors’ committee, described the industrial action as avoidable if the government re-engages constructively in negotiations.

Critics argue that the BMA’s pay demands are unreasonable given recent pay increases totaling approximately 33% over four years and comparable stagnation across other sectors. They call for stronger legal enforcement, such as minimum service requirements during strikes, which were legislated under the previous Conservative government but repealed by Labour upon their 2024 electoral victory. Opposition voices contend that Labour’s reliance on union support may limit the government’s willingness to implement tougher measures against strike action in the NHS.

The standoff continues, with potential for further strikes if negotiations remain unresolved, leaving patients and NHS staff caught in the ongoing dispute.