Imagine a healthcare system on the brink, where the very doctors tasked with saving lives are forced to walk away from their patients. This is the stark reality in England as resident doctors embark on their 13th strike, plunging the NHS into yet another crisis.
In a move that has sparked both frustration and fury, thousands of resident doctors—formerly known as junior doctors—are staging a five-day walkout, withdrawing their services from both emergency and non-urgent care. This latest strike, orchestrated by the British Medical Association (BMA), began at 07:00 GMT and will continue until Wednesday morning, marking another chapter in the protracted pay dispute that has gripped the nation.
But here’s where it gets controversial: While NHS bosses insist that 95% of non-urgent services, including hip and knee operations, will remain operational, the cost of maintaining this facade is staggering. The NHS estimates that this five-day strike alone will cost a whopping £240 million, as consultants and senior doctors are redeployed and offered overtime to fill the void. Yet, despite these efforts, patients like 68-year-old Colette Houlihan are bearing the brunt. Her pre-surgery appointment for a benign neck tumor has been postponed to late December, marking her third cancellation. ‘I’m furious,’ she admits, ‘By striking, they ignore the Hippocratic Oath—first, do no harm.’
And this is the part most people miss: The BMA argues that resident doctors’ pay, despite recent increases, remains 20% lower than in 2008 when adjusted for inflation. Dr. Emma Runswick, deputy chair of the BMA Council, highlights a deeper issue: a jobs crisis at a critical stage of doctors’ training. This year, over 30,000 doctors competed for just 10,000 specialty training posts, leaving many without consistent work. ‘We need a solution for this bottleneck,’ Dr. Runswick told the BBC, ‘and we need to retain doctors by paying them appropriately.’
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has taken a hardline stance, labeling the BMA ‘morally reprehensible’ and accusing them of holding the public to ransom. He points to the nearly 30% pay rise doctors have received over the past three years, bringing average salaries to just over £54,000. Yet, talks collapsed last week after the BMA rejected his latest offer, which included covering out-of-pocket expenses and increasing specialty training places—but not addressing pay directly.
Here’s the burning question: Is the BMA’s demand for pay restoration justified, or are they overstepping in a time of economic strain? NHS England’s medical director, Prof Meghana Pandit, calls the strike ‘frustrating and disappointing,’ especially as flu cases surge earlier than usual. Meanwhile, BMA leader Dr. Tom Dolphin insists doctors have a legal right to strike and should not be ‘bullied or coerced’ into working. He warns that doctors will only abandon the picket line in the event of a major emergency.
As the strike unfolds, the divide between the government, NHS, and doctors deepens. Patients are caught in the crossfire, and the system teeters on the edge. What do you think? Are the doctors’ demands fair, or is this strike a step too far? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s spark a conversation that could shape the future of healthcare in England.