Resident doctors in England will stage a six-day strike next month after talks between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the government broke down.
The strike, set to start at 07:00 GMT on 7 April, is a response to the government's offer of a 3.5% pay rise, which the BMA described as a disappointment.
The BMA had been seeking a more substantial pay increase to address concerns about job shortages and pay erosion due to inflation.
Background to the Dispute
The dispute has been ongoing for over a year, with the two sides engaging in on-and-off talks.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has maintained that he will not discuss pay, citing the nearly 30% pay rises doctors have received over the past three years.
The BMA argues that, despite these pay rises, resident doctors' pay is still a fifth lower than it was in 2008, once inflation is taken into account.
Strike Details
The strike will be the 15th walkout since March 2023 and will affect nearly half of the medics working in the NHS, with two-thirds of resident doctors being BMA members.
Dr Jack Fletcher from the BMA said the offer on the table would mean further pay erosion for doctors, given the expected increase in inflation.
According to the BBC, the strike will have significant implications for NHS patients and staff.
Government Response
Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed disappointment at the BMA's rejection of the offer, stating that the government had pulled every available lever to put forward a generous package.
Streeting described the BMA's expectations as "beyond reasonable and realistic".
