Resident doctors in England are urging the Health Secretary to immediately negotiate a new pay deal after voting overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in their campaign for full pay restoration.

With 90% of resident doctors voting yes on a turnout of 55%, their ballot has provided a mandate for industrial action for six months, up to January 2026.

However, the leaders of the resident doctors committee (RDC) are clear that there is still time to avert strike action.

RDC co-chairs Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt said: “Doctors have spoken and spoken clearly: they won’t accept that they are worth a fifth less than they were in 2008. Our pay may have declined but our will to fight remains strong.

“We now find ourselves at a crucial crossroads. Last year when in opposition Mr Streeting said that the solution to strikes was to talk to resident doctors. It was as true then as it is now. He made a point of acting quickly to grasp the issue and negotiate a solution. Only a few weeks ago he again said he wanted to get back round the table with us.

“Now we will see if he can once again make the right decision. He needs to come forward as soon as possible with a credible path to pay restoration. All we need is a credible pay offer and nobody need strike.

“Doctors don’t take industrial action lightly – but they know it is preferable to watching their profession wither away. The next move is the Government’s. Will it repeat the mistakes of its predecessor? Or will it do the right thing and negotiate a path to full pay restoration and the restoration of doctors’ confidence in our profession’s future?”

Notes to editors

Ballot Breakdown

Q:

Are you prepared to take part in strike action?

Number of individuals who were entitled to vote in the ballot: 53,766

Number of votes cast in the ballot: 29,741

Votes cast in the ballot as a % of individuals who were entitled to vote: 55.32%

Number of spoilt or otherwise invalid voting papers returned: 19

Result of Voting

Yes: 26,766 - 90.05%
No:  2,956 - 9.95%

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