Overview
- The British Medical Association says resident doctors will walk out from 7am on 17 December to 7am on 22 December across England.
- The BMA will ballot members from 8 December to 2 February on extending its strike mandate, which could run to August 2026 if approved.
- Health Secretary Wes Streeting condemned the timing and ruled out going further on pay this year, though he says he remains open to talks.
- NHS leaders warn the pre-Christmas stoppage will heap intense winter pressure on services and likely trigger thousands of cancellations.
- Union leaders point to a shortage of training posts, including thousands turned away from Internal Medicine Training, while the government notes near-29% recent pay rises and an offered package of non-pay measures that was rejected.