Resident doctors in England are set to stage five more days of strike action in the run-up to Christmas, a move that has sparked concern among NHS leaders over potential disruption to patient care and hospital services.
The British Medical Association (BMA) said the nationwide action comes after the government’s “continuing failure” to make a credible offer on jobs or pay for resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors.
The walkout will begin at 7:00am on Wednesday, 17 December and run until 7:00am on Monday, 22 December, marking the 14th strike since March 2023.
Wes Streeting has failed to negotiate on pay or jobs.
We are again left with no choice but to strike.
We will strike between 07:00 Wednesday 17th December and 06:59 Monday 22nd December.
This will be a full walkout. pic.twitter.com/lcCDx9puCh
— DoctorsVote (@DoctorsVoteUK) December 1, 2025
Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, described the timing as “an inflammatory act by the BMA”.
He added: “Everyone knows in the run-up to Christmas we need all hands on deck. It’s really important to be able to discharge as many patients as possible so that, where appropriate, they can be at home with their loved ones.
We need to ensure there’s hospital capacity too to deal with the additional demand that always comes at this time of year. That’s going to be even more challenging now.
It’s totally unfair to patients and to other staff working for the NHS. Both sides need to get back around the table to break the logjam.”
Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, defended the decision, highlighting the government’s lack of action on pay and job security.
He said: “With the Government failing to put forward a credible plan to fix the jobs crisis for resident doctors at the same time as pushing a real-terms pay cut for them, we have no choice but to announce more strike dates.
However, these do not need to go ahead. Gradually raising pay over a few years and some common-sense fixes to the job security of our doctors are well within the reach of this government.
It would ensure both the long-term strength of our healthcare workforce and spare the country the indignity of seeing unemployed doctors at a time when patients are queuing up to even see a GP.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting criticised the timing, saying: “The BMA have clearly chosen to strike when it will cause maximum disruption, causing untold anxiety. Patients and NHS staff deserve better than this cynical attempt to wreck Christmas.”
Christmas Strikes and NHS Challenges
The planned industrial action follows a five-day walkout last month from 14 to 19 November. The BMA argues that doctors’ pay has fallen significantly in real terms since 2008 and is calling for a 29% pay rise to reverse “pay erosion.”
In addition, 97% of first-year resident doctors voted in favour of industrial action over a lack of training job placements.
After our last round of strike action, we gave @wesstreeting a window to deliver sufficient progress towards a viable deal on jobs and pay.
That hasn’t happened.
We’ve been given no choice but to return to the picket lines.#EndTrainingCrisis #PayRestoration pic.twitter.com/iNlWDNRpRN
— Resident Doctors (@BMAResidents) December 1, 2025
Despite a government offer in September 2024 of a 28.9% pay rise, the BMA rejected a later proposal that included “job prioritisation” and exam fee funding, choosing not to put it to members.
Hospital Disruption and Patient Impact
Rory Deighton, acute and community care director at the NHS Confederation, warned that the Christmas strikes would increase pressure on hospitals and staff.
“With winter now upon us, flu levels surging, and staff sickness expected to rise, pressure on services will be intense.
Resident doctors downing tools is deeply concerning for NHS staff and will have a huge impact on them and patients.
It will likely lead to thousands of cancelled appointments and operations, and in the end, patients will bear the brunt of this reckless industrial action.
Healthcare leaders will continue to do all they can to provide the best care possible and maintain patient safety during any periods of industrial action,” he said.
Pay and Job Disputes Behind Strikes
The BMA maintains that without a meaningful pay rise and better job security, the NHS risks losing vital members of its medical workforce.
The association says gradually raising pay over a few years, alongside common-sense reforms to job security, is achievable and would protect both patients and the long-term strength of the NHS.
Residents argue that striking is a last resort after years of “real-terms pay cuts” and insufficient training placements, emphasising that the industrial action is aimed at securing a sustainable future for the UK healthcare system rather than simply disrupting services.
