The British Medical Association (BMA) announced on 1 December 2025 that resident doctors will be striking again.

In a press release published by the BMA, Dr Jack Fletcher, the chair of the BMA’s resident doctors committee (RDC), announced how the Government has failed to fulfil the needs of resident doctors.

He criticised the Government for their ineffective action to “fix the job crisis” and decide a suitable pay cut which truly values resident doctors.

Strike action for resident doctors, previously referred to as junior doctors, have been ongoing since 2023 with the most recent strike action being from the 14 to 19 November of this year.

The Department for Health and Social Care reported there has been a 5.4% pay increase for 2025 to 2026.

Alongside previous strike action outcomes, resident doctors have received a 28.9% increase in the past three years.

Despite this, the BMA are determined to continue with strike action, stating they are left “with no choice”.

Ultimately, if a decision is made before the strike actions take place then “these do not need to go ahead”, says Dr Fletcher.

However, Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced on Sky News his frustration towards the BMA and their decision to continue strike action, referring to them as “irresponsible” and “unnecessary”.

He added he refuses to increase doctors’ pay but will aim to tackle how to manage the job crisis.

Daniel Aziz, 24, a fifth year medical student said: “a negative of the strikes is that it has made the public lose trust in the healthcare system” but he emphasised his support for strikes adding “doctors who really want to work are going without jobs”.

He highlighted particularly this issue of the lack of jobs has left him concerned for his future as he will be entering residency from next year.

In contrast, another medical student, Harry Gilbert, 18, said he has a mixed view on the strikes and stated his worry for the “vast amount of patients that might have delayed treatments”

He added: “a big reform needs to happen to the NHS.”

Ultimately they agreed it was the government who was responsible for resolving these issues.

Listen below to hear the public’s view on the strike action and how it affects them.