Resident doctors in England have voted to accept an offer from the Government to improve pay and working conditions, bringing an end to a year of strike action, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed.
Details of the deal
The new package includes standard 2016 resident doctor contract terms for all locally employed medics and an average 6.6% pay uplift to be fully implemented by April 2027. Additionally, there will be 4,500 extra specialty training places over three years. The DHSC said the deal means resident doctor pay will be 35.2% higher on average than it was four years ago.
The online vote for resident doctors ran from June 18 to June 26. There have been 21 days of strike action by the British Medical Association (BMA) Resident Doctor Committee since July 2025 during the dispute.
Government reaction
Health Secretary James Murray said: “This is very good news for resident doctors, patients and the NHS as a whole, allowing us to draw a line under the disruption of previous months and focus on getting on with the job of rebuilding our health service. Because of this deal, resident doctors will benefit from a new pay structure, better career progression opportunities and a range of other improved conditions to support them as they rotate and train. Patients will be relieved that the NHS is entering a period of greater stability. But this is the beginning, not the end of the journey. I know there is much more to do, and I am determined to keep working constructively with resident doctors, all NHS staff, and the unions who represent them to improve their working lives and together build a health service that is fit for the future.”
Background and impact
The BMA had warned that if the deal were rejected, strikes would “have to escalate in intensity.” Thousands of resident doctors in England had been set to stage a four-day walkout on June 15, which would have been the 16th round of strike action since 2023. However, that walkout was called off on June 13 after the offer was made.
The acceptance of this deal marks a significant step toward stability for the NHS, which has faced repeated disruptions due to industrial action. The new pay structure and additional training places are expected to help address workforce shortages and improve career progression for junior doctors.
