Overview

• The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced a strike ballot for over 50,000 resident doctors in England, running from May 27 to July 7, 2025.
• The ballot follows a meeting with Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who declined to pledge negotiations toward restoring 2008 pay levels by 2027.
• Resident doctors, formerly referred to as junior doctors, argue their real-terms pay has fallen by 22.3% since 2008, impacting morale and retention.
• The BMA co-chairs emphasized the need for fair pay restoration, stating doctors today should not be valued less than 17 years ago.
• Industrial action since 2023 has disrupted NHS services, with over 1.5 million appointments and operations postponed or canceled.