Resident doctors in England are set to begin a six day strike from April 7 to April 13 after rejecting the government’s latest pay offer, in a move that could add further pressure to the National Health Service. The British Medical Association said the proposal did not go far enough to address years of pay erosion and ongoing staffing concerns.
The offer included a 3.5% pay rise for 2026 to 2027, changes to pay progression over three years, reimbursement of mandatory exam fees from April 2026, and up to 4,500 additional training posts. But union leaders said the deal remained below inflation and would still leave many doctors worse off in real terms.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he was disappointed by the decision and described the offer as final. The planned walkout is expected to involve around 55,000 resident doctors, nearly half of England’s medical workforce, raising fresh concerns about delays and disruption across hospitals.
