Resident doctors in England have cancelled a planned strike after the government made a last-minute new proposal in ongoing talks over pay and working conditions.
The strike was originally scheduled to begin on Monday, running from 15 June to 19 June, and would have been the 16th industrial action in a long-running dispute between doctors and the government.
The British Medical Association (BMA) said it received a new offer from the government, which will now be presented to its members for voting. The union said it had only called off the strike because the government changed its position during negotiations.
Health Secretary James Murray welcomed the decision, describing it as an opportunity to “draw a line under the damaging disputes of recent years.” He said there would be no additional pay increase this year, but proposed faster pay rises in the coming years, along with other reforms.
These include plans to create 4,500 additional training places for newly qualified doctors and to cover exam fees for medical trainees.
Government officials stated that resident doctors have already received pay increases of about 33% over the past four years, including a 3.5% rise this year. However, the BMA argues that real wages remain significantly lower than in 2008 once inflation is considered.
The union said it had always been open to cancelling strike action if a meaningful offer was made, but criticised the government for leaving negotiations until the last moment.
NHS officials welcomed the suspension of the strike, noting that while most appointments and surgeries were expected to continue, some patients had already experienced disruptions and delays.
The dispute between resident doctors and the government has been ongoing since 2023, involving repeated strikes over pay, staffing levels, and working conditions across England’s health system.
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