Doctors in England accept pay deal to end strikes

LONDON: Doctors in England have voted to accept a pay and conditions offer, the UK government announced on Monday, bringing to an end a year of strike action.

The so-called resident doctors — those below consultant level — have accepted an average 6.6% pay uplift to be implemented by April 2027.

The deal will mean medics’ pay will be more than 35% higher on average than it was four years ago, the health department said.

It will also see 4,500 extra specialty training places being established over the three years.

“This is very good news for resident doctors, patients and the NHS as a whole, allowing us to draw a line under the disruption of previous months and focus on getting on with the job of rebuilding our health service,” said health secretary James Murray.

Resident doctors have taken part in 21 days of strike action since July last year.

In total, they have walked out 15 times in just over three years.

Labour ousted the Conservatives from power in July 2024, vowing to end the strikes.

But the government and the doctors remained in deadlock over the medics’ demand for a pay hike to compensate for what they say is a real-time loss of earnings due to inflation.

Thousands of doctors were set to stage a four-day walkout on June 15, which would have been the 16th round of strike action since 2023.

But it was called off on June 13 after the latest offer was made.

Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation last Monday and is expected to step down in mid-July.