Resident doctors in England starting out in their career have voted resoundingly for strike action as the doctor unemployment crisis threatens the future of the medical workforce.
The ballot of first-year resident doctors (FY1s), which closed at midday today, saw 97% (or 3,950) of resident doctors voting for strike action on a turnout of 65%, providing them with a mandate for industrial action alongside the linked dispute over eroded pay.
A third (34%) of resident doctors responding to a recent BMA survey said they had no substantive employment or regular work from August 2025. This rose to more than half (52%) among FY2 (foundation year two) doctors. First year doctors, with their whole careers ahead of them, were balloted given they are going to be seriously impacted by this lack of workforce planning.
While no strikes are currently planned, the talks with Government currently ongoing will now have to produce a solution on jobs as well as the 21% pay erosion resident doctors have endured since 2008 to avoid future action.
Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA's resident doctors committee (RDC), said:
“Doctors have spoken clearly: they won’t accept that they face a career of insecurity at a time when the demand for doctors is huge. Yet successive governments have been unable to embrace the changes both doctors and patients are crying out for.
“The numbers are absurd: more than 10,000 doctors applied this year to become psychiatrists with less than 500 able to get a place, yet patients are still experiencing significant waits at a detriment to their health. GP unemployment is getting worse with five doctors applying for every GP training post, yet patient demand for appointments continues to increase.
"It makes no sense that despite the need to bring down waiting lists and increase capacity for patients to be seen, thousands of willing and skilled doctors are unable to find the work to begin treating them.
“The NHS 10 Year Plan currently offers a paltry 1,000 training extra places when there are already 20,000 more applicants than places. The result of today’s ballot makes it clear that the Government will now need to step up to the plate.
“By putting these two disputes – pay and jobs – together, we are now giving Government a chance to create a plan that supports and develops the workforce of the next generation. Patients need doctors to have jobs. Doctors need to know they will have jobs. And they need to know they will be paid what they’re worth.
"We do not want to have to strike, but we will if we are left with no choice. The Government has the power to end both of these disputes now: it must use this opportunity to make the changes that are desperately needed.”
Notes to editors
Ballot results breakdown:
Number of individuals who were entitled to vote in the ballot 6,243
Number of votes cast in the ballot 4,057
Votes cast in the ballot as a % of individuals who were entitled to vote 64.98%
Q: Are you prepared to take part in strike action?
Number of spoilt or otherwise invalid voting papers returned 0
Result of Voting
Yes 3,950 (97.36%)
No 107 (2.64%)
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.