Resident medical doctors in Scotland to go on strike for first time

[ad_1] Lisa Summers , Scotland well being and social care correspondent and

Catherine Lyst , BBC Scotland

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/2862/live/038d4820-c13a-11f0-8717-7b6a6b2fefad.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/2862/live/038d4820-c13a-11f0-8717-7b6a6b2fefad.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/2862/live/038d4820-c13a-11f0-8717-7b6a6b2fefad.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/2862/live/038d4820-c13a-11f0-8717-7b6a6b2fefad.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/2862/live/038d4820-c13a-11f0-8717-7b6a6b2fefad.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/2862/live/038d4820-c13a-11f0-8717-7b6a6b2fefad.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/2862/live/038d4820-c13a-11f0-8717-7b6a6b2fefad.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/2862/live/038d4820-c13a-11f0-8717-7b6a6b2fefad.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Getty Images Three medics in blue scrubs, two men and a woman, walk along a hospital corridor. One of the men is holding a clipboard, the other some papers and the woman has a stethoscope around her neck. They are walking side by side, engaged in conversation. In the foreground, there is woman sitting on a black cushioned chair. She is turned away from the camera, looking towards the medics." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Getty Pictures Scotland's resident medical doctors are to go on strike in a dispute over pay - the primary time a nationwide walkout has been staged by NHS employees.

Their union BMA Scotland had accused the federal government of reneging on a dedication to revive pay to 2008 ranges.

With 92% voting in favour, strike dates have been set for 07:00 on Tuesday 13 January to 07:00 on Saturday 17 January 2026.

Well being Secretary Neil Grey stated he was disillusioned by the outcome, including that he had provided to satisfy the BMA Scotland chairman on Monday.

BMA Scotland earlier stated it nonetheless believed a decision could possibly be discovered and had referred to as for the Scottish authorities to get again to the negotiating desk and current a "credible supply".

Resident medical doctors - who was once referred to as junior medical doctors - make up virtually half of the medical workforce in Scotland.

They vary from newly certified medical doctors to these with as much as 10 years expertise.

Mr Grey stated: "Resident medical doctors in Scotland have acquired a 4.25% pay uplift this yr - as a part of a two-year deal - the identical as accepted by nurses and different NHS workers.

"This implies by 2027, we can have delivered a cumulative pay rise of 35% in 4 years.

"Our high precedence for our sufferers and the workforce is to enhance ready instances, entry to the NHS and constructive outcomes. Industrial motion will put all that progress in danger."

Scotland had been the one a part of the UK to have prevented strike motion by NHS employees.

With 5,185 resident medical doctors in Scotland eligible to vote, turnout was 58% with a complete of three,008 votes forged.

A strike in the summertime of 2023 was called off at the last minute after a deal was agreed.

As a part of that, BMA Scotland stated the federal government dedicated to creating "credible progress" in the direction of restoring pay to 2008 ranges in every of the three following monetary years.

A collection of strikes by resident doctors in England has led to 1000's of operations and procedures being cancelled.

An ongoing five-day walkout is inflicting additional disruption and has been described as "dangerous and utterly irresponsible" by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Any strike in Scotland could be a significant blow to the Scottish authorities's promise to finish lengthy waits for procedures and appointments by March 2026 and would put much more stress on an overstretched NHS in an election yr.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/7617/live/e2534bf0-5bea-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/7617/live/e2534bf0-5bea-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7617/live/e2534bf0-5bea-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/7617/live/e2534bf0-5bea-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/7617/live/e2534bf0-5bea-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/7617/live/e2534bf0-5bea-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/7617/live/e2534bf0-5bea-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7617/live/e2534bf0-5bea-11f0-b5c5-012c5796682d.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="PA Media A group of junior (now called resident) doctors holding placards outside a hospital in London last year. They are holding signs saying "£15 an hour is not a fair wage for a junior doctor" and wearing orange hats with the BMA logo on them. They look like they are singing or chanting." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> PA Media Resident medical doctors have been participating in a collection of strikes in England

Dr Chris Smith, chairman of the BMA resident medical doctors committee, stated: "The results of this poll reveals that resident medical doctors in Scotland are united in anger over the Scottish authorities breaking the deal they agreed over pay simply two years in the past.

"This isn't the place we needed to be. Nevertheless, we now have despatched a message loud and clear – the federal government can't openly renege on its commitments with out anticipating to be held to account.

"As a substitute of negotiating with resident medical doctors to make credible progress in the direction of pay restoration, as they agreed to do, they've imposed a pay uplift that's the lowest common award acquired by resident medical doctors wherever within the UK."

He stated the deal the Scottish authorities agreed to in 2023 was the one cause strike motion had been prevented.

"It was working for medical doctors and the well being service," he stated. "By turning their backs on this deal, the Scottish authorities is forcing a dispute and knowingly placing the NHS in Scotland prone to disruptive strike motion."

Dr Smith stated there was nonetheless time to keep away from strikes.

"BMA Scotland resident medical doctors stay dedicated to the deal when it's being upheld in its entirety," he stated.

"If we do not take a stand now when the federal government have damaged a dedication agreed to in good religion, they are going to take this as licence to do it many times, together with on points comparable to contract negotiations and extra coaching jobs for resident medical doctors as a part of future medical workforce planning.

"This issues not only for medical doctors, however for sufferers and for the way forward for the complete NHS in Scotland, which depends on in the present day's resident medical doctors to remain right here and grow to be the GPs, specialist medical doctors and consultants of tomorrow."

What was the Scottish authorities's supply?

The 2-year supply from the Scottish authorities was for a 4.25% improve in 2025/26 and three.75% in 26/27.

It's the identical supply that nurses, paramedics and different NHS employees accepted earlier this yr.

BMA Scotland stated it will have been the bottom within the UK and was lower than was really helpful by the impartial pay evaluation physique.

The present supply would see the basic pay for a newly certified physician rise from £34,500 to £37,345 for 2026/27 and for a physician with 10 years expertise rise from £71,549 to £77,387.