London, December 17, 2025:
Resident doctors in England launched a five-day strike today in an escalating dispute with the government over pay, staffing and working conditions, intensifying pressures on the National Health Service (NHS) during a severe winter flu surge. The action, organised by the British Medical Association (BMA), marks the 14th round of industrial action since March 2023 as negotiations remain deadlocked.
The walkout comes after doctors overwhelmingly rejected the government’s latest offer — including job increases and training support — demanding a significant increase in real-term pay to counter years of erosion. Health Secretary Wes Streeting and opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer criticised the strike as “irresponsible,” warning it risks services at one of the busiest times of the year.
NHS leaders have cautioned that the strike will disrupt routine appointments and operations, potentially extending into the new year as hospitals contend with record flu admissions and bed pressures. Calls for independent mediation are growing, but both sides remain entrenched with no breakthrough yet.
Meanwhile, the BMA faces criticism after administrative staff threatened their own industrial action over pay issues, drawing debate over union priorities during the ongoing strike period.
