Resident doctors in England have overwhelmingly voted in favour of a mandate for industrial action for a further six months. This is in support of their ongoing campaign for more training posts and restoring the pay they have lost in real terms over the past 16 years. 

With 93% (or 26,696) of resident doctors voting yes on a turnout of 53% the resident doctors committee (RDC) is urging the Government to act immediately to prevent further strikes taking place in the coming months. 

RDC chair Dr Jack Fletcher said:   

“This is not a problem the Government can wait out.   

“Ministers cannot be shocked that 93% of doctors have voted to strike after being recommended a pay cut this year by the same health secretary who promised a journey to fair pay. 

“And without thousands more training posts, the bottlenecks in medical training are going to continue to rob brilliant young doctors of their careers. Doctors have today clearly said that is not acceptable. 

“None of this needs to mean more strikes. In recent weeks the Government has shown an improved approach in tone compared with the name-calling we saw late last year. A deal is there to be done: a new jobs package and an offer raising pay fairly over several years can be worked out through good will on both sides, in the interests of patients, staff and the whole NHS. 

“And now that the mandate for strike action is confirmed for six months, the Government has nowhere to run and no means of running out the clock. With no choice but to get a deal, we hope that means a responsible approach from the health secretary and a timely settlement with no further need for strikes.”  

Notes to editors