Why Are Resident Doctors Striking—and How Much Do They Earn?

Junior physicians in England are preparing a strike action lasting five days starting on July 25th due to a disagreement regarding their wages with the authorities.

They claim they have not received a "valid salary agreement" for 2025-2026, yet Health Secretary Wes Streeting contends the strikes are "unjustified," citing significant wage increases in recent times.

Five-day strike planned by resident physicians in England during July

What do resident physicians want in terms of salary?

The British Medical Association (BMA), which represents medical professionals as a labor union, states that the salary of trainee doctors will be 20% less compared to levels in 2008, despite a rise announced in August.

The BMA seeks to restore the salaries of the group—previously referred to as trainee physicians—to the levels seen 17 years ago, which they claim marked the beginning of a decline in their earnings.

The claim is based on a measure of inflation called the Retail Price Index (RPI). This includes housing costs and shows higher price increases than some other inflation measures.

The BMA points out that many resident doctors have large student loans and that interest on these is calculated using RPI.

Nevertheless, the government claims that RPI is obsolete. It now relies on the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) to measure inflation and determine wage adjustments. The CPI considers the expenses associated with a selection of everyday household products and services.

According to the CPI measurement, the government claims that resident physicians' present wages are reasonable.

According to an analysis by the Nuffield Trust, a healthcare policy institute, wages have decreased by 5% since 2008 when using the Consumer Price Index, whereas they have dropped almost 20% according to the Retail Prices Index.

What salary increases have trainee physicians received, and how much do they make now?

Starting from 2023, trainee physicians have participated in 11 distinct work stoppages, advocating for improved compensation and workplace environments.

Over the course of 2023-24, spanning more than two years, they were granted a 22% salary rise. Starting in August of this year, they will receive an extra 5.4% salary increase .

Health Secretary Wes Streeting claims that trainee physicians have seen the biggest salary increases among all public service workers during the past three years.

The authorities state they will not provide any additional raises.

In their initial training year following graduation from medical school, resident physicians in England receive a base pay of £38,831, working approximately 48 hours each week. By the second year, this amount increases to £44,439.

Healthcare professionals frequently have to work overnight shifts, on weekends, and extended periods in exchange for additional compensation.

Following eight years of service as a medical practitioner, earnings may increase to approximately £70,000.

Which salary increases have individuals in different occupations received?

In May, The administration declared salary increases The authorities revealed wage hikes Officials disclosed compensation boosts The state introduced raises in wages Government officials stated income increments Authorities reported an increase in salaries The public sector announced higher pay rates Policy makers unveiled adjustments in remuneration The governing body confirmed salary enhancements Leadership announced improvements in employee earnings among various public service employees, such as:

4% for additional medical professionals, dental practitioners, and educators in England, along with correctional staff in England and Wales
a 3.25% increase for government employees a 3.25 percent boost for public sector workers a 3.25% hike in salaries for state officials a 3.25% upward adjustment for civil service personnel an increase of 3.25% for those working in the civil service
A 3.6% increase for certain NHS workers in England, such as nurses and midwives
A 4.5% increase for personnel in the UK military, along with a 3.75% raise for high-ranking service members

Nevertheless, the BMA claims that trainee physicians might have accumulated greater educational loans compared to individuals in different professions.

Earning a medical degree typically requires five or six years of study, which is more time-consuming compared to most other academic programs.

Junior physicians also mention they have limited influence over their assigned locations and schedules. It can be challenging to establish a stable base due to the requirement to complete rotations in various regions across the country.

What impact will the strike of resident physicians have on patients?

Medical staff plan to go on strike in England starting at 07:00 on July 25th and continuing until 07:00 on July 30th.

Top officials from NHS have cautioned that medical services could face interruptions if the strike proceeds.

During strike days, more experienced physicians tend to take over shifts in emergency and immediate care units to fill in for striking junior doctors. Consequently, numerous scheduled surgeries may need to be canceled.

There were 507,000 appointments and operations cancelled and rescheduled because of strikes by doctors (some including consultants) between July 2023 and February 2024, according to government analysis.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the prime minister of having "boasted that he solved the doctors' strike" only for them to take further action, adding that he'd been "weak" in dealing with the medics.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not affected by these strikes.