Industrial action by junior doctors in England will proceed this week after members of the British Medical Association (BMA) voted decisively to reject a new offer from the Government. The five-day walkout is set to begin at 7am on Wednesday, December 17th.
Overwhelming Rejection of "Too Little, Too Late" Offer
Union members participated in an online poll over the weekend to decide if the Government's latest proposal was sufficient to call off the planned strike. The offer included a pledge to fast-track the expansion of specialist training posts and cover certain out-of-pocket expenses like exam fees, but it did not contain any additional pay. This deal was rejected by 83% of those who voted, with a turnout of 65%.
Dr Jack Fletcher, chairman of the BMA’s junior doctors committee, stated the response was a clear message to the Health Secretary. "Tens of thousands of frontline doctors have come together to say ‘no’ to what is clearly too little, too late," he said.
Strike Proceeds Amidst NHS Winter Pressures
This will be the 14th strike staged by junior doctors since the dispute began in March 2023. Junior doctors constitute just under half of the medical workforce in England, meaning the walkout will cause significant disruption.
The timing intensifies the crisis, as the NHS faces severe seasonal pressures. Official data shows flu cases in hospitals in England have reached a record level for this time of year, with cases jumping by more than 55% in a single week. NHS England has warned hospitals are facing a 'worst case scenario', with concerns about a 'super flu' sweeping the nation.
Government and Union Trade Accusations on Patient Safety
The decision to strike has ignited a fierce war of words between the Government and the doctors' union. Health Secretary Wes Streeting accused the BMA of a "shocking disregard for patient safety," calling the walkout "self-indulgent, irresponsible and dangerous."
He argued the strikes were about an unmet "fantasy demand" for a further 26% pay rise, noting junior doctors had already received a 28.9% pay increase. "I am appealing to ordinary junior doctors to go to work this week," Streeting said. "Abandoning your patients in their hour of greatest need goes against everything a career in medicine is meant to be about."
The BMA countered that the strike was still "entirely avoidable." Dr Fletcher urged the Health Secretary to use the short time remaining to come up with a credible offer to end the jobs crisis and avert real-terms pay cuts projected for 2026.
