Resident doctors in Scotland have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action over the Scottish Government breaking their commitments on pay.
Almost 92% of those who voted during the five-week ballot, which closed today, were in favour of strike action. With 5185 resident doctors in Scotland eligible to vote, turnout out was 58% with a total of 3008 votes cast.
BMA Scotland believes it is still possible for a resolution to be found and strike action is still avoidable and is calling for the Scottish Government to get back to the negotiating table and present a credible offer that the BMA believes could be put to members.
However, if this does not happen, BMA Scotland today confirmed resident doctors will strike in Scotland from 7am Tuesday 13th January to 7am Saturday 17th January 2026.
Dr Chris Smith, chair of the BMA’s Scottish Resident Doctor Committee, said: “The result of this ballot shows that resident doctors in Scotland are united in anger over the Scottish Government breaking the deal they agreed over pay just two years ago.
“This is not where we wanted to be. However, we have sent a message loud and clear – the Government cannot brazenly renege on its commitments without expecting to be held to account. Instead of negotiating with resident doctors to make credible progress towards pay restoration, as they agreed to do, they have imposed a pay uplift that is the lowest average award received by resident doctors anywhere in the UK.
“The deal that the Scottish Government agreed in 2023 was the only reason strike action which we have seen elsewhere in the UK has been avoided. It was working for doctors and the health service. By turning their backs on this deal, the Scottish Government is forcing a dispute and knowingly putting the NHS in Scotland at risk of disruptive strike action.
“By some measures this is a real-terms pay cut and even under optimistic forecasts, it will take decades to achieve pay restoration. That is completely unacceptable. We are simply asking for the Government to deliver on what they previously promised, an offer which will provide a meaningful, continued and crucially credible step on the path towards addressing the pay erosion which resident doctors have suffered from since 2008.
“If they had kept to their commitment, and the trajectory towards pay restoration, this dispute could have been averted. And there is still time to avoid strikes – BMA Scotland resident doctors remain committed to the deal when it is being upheld in its entirety.
“However we will not accept and we will not allow the deal we struck to be discarded so carelessly. If we don’t take a stand now when the Government have broken a commitment agreed to in good faith, they will take this as licence to do it again and again, including on issues such as contract negotiations and more training jobs for resident doctors as part of future medical workforce planning. This matters not just for doctors, but for patients and for the future of the entire NHS in Scotland, which relies on today’s resident doctors to stay here and become the GPs, specialist doctors and consultants of tomorrow.”
Notes to editors
Ballot results breakdown and information:
The Scottish resident doctors strike ballot opened on Friday 14 November 2025 and ran for five weeks, closing at noon on Friday 19 December.
Number of resident doctors entitled to vote: 5185
Number of returned ballots: 3008 (58.01%)
Number of YES votes: 2764 (91.98%)
Number of NO votes: 241 (8.02%)
During strikes, patient care for urgent and emergency services is provided and for Health Boards to arrange. A process of derogation is in place should Boards need to recall doctors to work.
The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.