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Resident doctors will be striking again later this month because they claim they have been “left with no choice”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a press release published by the British Medical Association (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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a result, they have decided to strike from 17 December for five days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He criticised the Government for their ineffective action to “fix the job crisis” and decide a suitable pay cut which truly values resident doctors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Strike action for resident doctors, previously referred to as junior doctors, have been ongoing since 2023 with the most recent strike action being from 14 to 19 November of this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Department for Health and Social Care reported there has been a 5.4% pay increase for 2025 to 2026, and doctors have received a 28.9% increase in the past three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ultimately, if a decision is made before the strike actions take place then they do not need to go ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stated he refuses to increase doctors’ pay but will aim to tackle how to manage the job crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite this, he expressed his full support for the strikes, and said: “Doctors who really want to work are going without jobs.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The main issue he highlighted was his concern for the lack of job prospects in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In contrast, another medical student, Harry Gilbert, 18, stated he has a mixed view on the strikes and said: “I’m worried for the vast amount of patients that might have delayed treatments.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added: “A big reform needs to happen to the NHS.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ultimately they agreed it was the government who was responsible for resolving these issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Listen below to hear the public’s view on the strike action and how it affects them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n