Why are we holding a ballot on jobs and pay?
Throughout our fight for pay restoration, we’ve heard loud and clear that, as well as eroded pay, resident doctors are facing unemployment.
With our mandate to strike over pay coming to an end in January, we will now be balloting all resident doctors for industrial action over jobs and pay.
That means that if you are an FY1 doctor who voted for strike action over jobs and pay in September, this re-ballot includes you.
This will give us a single mandate that firmly unites all resident doctors - and shows the Government our collective strength.
The ballot will run from 8 December to 2 February. Make sure to post your paper back by 26 January at the latest.
Why did we only ballot employed first-year foundation doctors over jobs and pay the first time?
In September 2025, we balloted only first-year foundation doctors over jobs, as well as pay, because they were group set to be most heavily impacted by the problem in coming years.
Since then, we’ve heard from members across all grades impacted by this issue, and UKRDC has voted to include all residents in future ballots on it.
This is why we are now preparing to re-ballot all resident doctors on jobs as well as pay.
Why you should vote YES for jobs and pay
Patients need doctors, and doctors need jobs. And in those jobs, doctors should be paid fairly for the work they do.
In 2025, there were more than 30,000 doctors applying in round one of specialty training, competing for one of around 10,000 places.
While the Government was prepared to increase the number of specialty training posts over the next three years by 2,000, this is nowhere near enough to address the jobs crisis.
This is on top of the burden of huge amounts of student for resident doctors, and the fact they are paid more than a fifth less than they were in 2008.
Now, the Government is suggesting a substantive real terms pay cut for resident doctors in 2026 as part of their DDRB submission.
We need both jobs and pay addressed. We need to see sufficient progress that moves us towards a viable deal.
We also need to see UK medical graduates prioritised for training posts, all the while ensuring
IMGs who are currently working in the UK are protected.
To help us achieve that, we need you to vote YES for jobs and pay.
Find out more about the specialty training crisis and our fight for pay restoration.
Voting in the ballot
Who can vote
All BMA resident doctor members in England employed by NHS organisations are eligible to vote.
Please note that you must join BMA by Monday 19 January in order to take part in this ballot.
What your vote means
Your vote in the ballot indicates whether you support industrial action but does not commit you to action. The decision to take action is an individual choice.
Everybody who we are balloting may take action. We are not balloting those members who are not eligible to take action - for example, armed forces doctors.
Receiving your ballot
When to expect your ballot
Eligible members should receive their ballot by Friday 12 December, but please allow seven days before requesting a replacement ballot paper.
How to request a ballot paper
Fill in our ballot replacement form, which will be online from Monday 15 December.
You can request a ballot paper until midday on Monday 19 January.
Posting your ballot
When to post your ballot
We recommend that ballot papers are posted back by Monday 26 January.
Opting out of the ballot
If you are ineligible
If you are currently a resident doctor and have received a ballot, but are not eligible to vote in the ballot, please let us know so that we can have you excluded from the total vote count. This applies whether or not you have returned a ballot paper.
You may be ineligible if you are:
- away from work for the entire mandate period (2 February 2026 to 2 August 2026), including on maternity leave
- due to obtain your CCT and have a starting date for a consultant or GP post before 8 December
- a regular serving member of the Armed Forces
- not employed by an English NHS employer
- working overseas for the entire mandate period
- working as a resident doctor but not paid by the NHS on your payslip
- starting a consultant or GP post before 2 February 2026.
However, if you are, or expect to be, a resident doctor for even one day of the mandate period (2 February 2026 to 2 August 2026), including if you will be in your period of grace, you are eligible to vote.
If you’re unsure about whether you are eligible to vote, please email us.
Receiving a ballot in error
Please let us know by filling out our ballot sent in error form or by email. It is essential that you let us know if you have received a ballot in error. This is so that we can remove you from our system, so your ballot does not count against us reaching the necessary threshold for a successful ballot.
The ballot sent in error form will be made available once the ballot opens on 8 December.
Opting out if you're away from work
You will need to contact the BMA and opt out of the ballot if you are away for the whole mandate period. This includes if you are on maternity leave.
However, if you are returning within the mandate period, you are still eligible to vote.
Opting out if you are no longer a resident doctor
You will need to contact the BMA and opt out of the ballot if you are due to obtain your CCT and start a consultant/GP post on or before the first day of the mandate period.
If you are, or expect to be, a resident doctor for even one day of the mandate period, including if you will be in your period of grace, you are eligible to vote.
If you can't find the information you need in this guide, send us your questions here and we will add the answers to these pages.
Or contact BMA via our employment advice form if you have a question about your personal circumstances.