13th June, 2026 | News

Planned Resident Doctors’ Strike in England Cancelled After New Government Offer

A planned four-day strike by resident doctors in England has been called off after the British Medical Association (BMA) confirmed it would not go ahead, following fresh negotiations with the government.

The walkout had been scheduled to begin at 7am on Monday 15 June and end at 6:59am on Friday 19 June. It would have marked the 16th industrial action by resident doctors since 2023.

The decision to cancel the strike comes after the government reportedly made a new proposal covering pay, job progression, and working conditions. The offer is understood to include an average 6.6% pay uplift, which would be fully implemented by April 2027.

Health Secretary James Murray described the cancellation as a “positive and welcome development,” welcoming the decision by the BMA to halt what he called unnecessary strike action.

He noted that resident doctors had already received significant pay increases in recent years and argued that further increases must remain affordable within existing NHS budgets. He also said the agreement would support improvements in training places and working conditions.

Government Says Deal Improves Pay and Conditions

The government has framed the new offer as a balanced settlement that provides pay increases while also addressing workforce issues in the National Health Service. Officials said funding would come from existing health budgets.

According to the terms of the proposal, all locally employed doctors would be placed on standard resident doctor contract arrangements, alongside the proposed pay uplift.

BMA: Decision Made After Government Shifted Position

The BMA said it would put the offer to a vote among its members. Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, said strikes are always a last resort, but argued that progress had only been made after the government changed its position.

He said doctors had been seeking a fairer pay deal, improved job opportunities, and measures to address what the union describes as workforce shortages and pay erosion.

Dr Fletcher added that tens of thousands of resident doctors would now vote in a referendum to decide whether to accept the new proposal.

Future Action Still Possible

While the strike has been suspended, the BMA warned that further industrial action could return if members reject the offer. The current mandate for strike action remains valid until August.

Separate disputes involving consultants and SAS doctors are also ongoing in England, following rejection of a separate pay proposal.

In Northern Ireland, BMA members have already voted in favour of industrial action, with upcoming walkouts and work-to-rule measures planned later this month.