'United in anger' - Scottish resident doctors to go on strike for first time

Union BMA Scotland said the Scottish Government had gone back on a commitment to restore pay to 2008 levels.

Some 90 per cent voted in favour of striking from 7am on Tuesday January 13 to 7am Saturday January 17.

But BMA Scotland said a resolution could be found and urged the SNP Government to go back to the negotiating table with a “credible offer”.

Dr Chris Smith, chairman of the BMA resident doctors committee, said: "The result of this ballot shows that resident doctors in Scotland are united in anger over the Scottish government breaking the deal they agreed over pay just two years ago.

"This is not where we wanted to be. However, we have sent a message loud and clear – the government cannot brazenly renege on its commitments without expecting to be held to account.

"Instead of negotiating with resident doctors to make credible progress towards pay restoration, as they agreed to do, they have imposed a pay uplift that is the lowest average award received by resident doctors anywhere in the UK."

Resident doctors were formerly known as junior doctors. They make up half of Scotland’s medical workforce.

Their experience ranges from newly qualified doctors to those who have been working for ten years.

So far, Scotland has been the only part of the UK to have avoided strike action by doctors.

Some 5,138 resident doctors in Scotland were eligible to vote. Turnout was 58 per cent - with 3,008 votes cast.

A summer 2023 strike was called off at the last minute after a deal was struck.

BMA Scotland said then that the Scottish Government had promised “credible progress” towards restoring pay to 2008 levels within three years.

Dr Smith said the 2023 was the only reason strikes had been avoided: "It was working for doctors and the health service.

"By turning their backs on this deal, the Scottish government is forcing a dispute and knowingly putting the NHS in Scotland at risk of disruptive strike action."

He said strikes could still be avoided: "BMA Scotland resident doctors remain committed to the deal when it is being upheld in its entirety.

"If we don't take a stand now when the government have broken a commitment agreed to in good faith, they will take this as licence to do it again and again, including on issues such as contract negotiations and more training jobs for resident doctors as part of future medical workforce planning.

"This matters not just for doctors, but for patients and for the future of the entire NHS in Scotland, which relies on today's resident doctors to stay here and become the GPs, specialist doctors and consultants of tomorrow."

The Scottish Government has currently offered a 4.25 per cent increase in 2026/26 and 3.75 per cent in 26/27.

This is the same offer which nurses , paramedics and other NHS workers accepted earlier this year.

But BMA Scotland said it was the lowest in the UK and less than the independent pay review body recommended.

The current offer would see basic pay for a newly qualified doctor go from £34,500 to £37,345 for 2026/27 and from £71,549 to £77,387 for those with ten years’ experience.

Doctors are expected to work night shifts, weekends or longer hours for which they receive a better rate.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “I am disappointed that BMA Resident Doctors have voted to take strike action and I have offered to meet the chair of the BMA Residents Committee on Monday 22 December.

“Resident Doctors in Scotland have received a 4.25 per cent pay uplift this year - as part of a two-year deal - the same as accepted by Nurses and other NHS staff.

“This means by 2027, we will have delivered a cumulative pay rise of 35 per cent in four years.

“Our top priority for our patients and the workforce is to improve waiting times, access to the NHS and positive outcomes. Industrial action will put all that progress at risk.”

Green MSP Patrick Harvie urged the Scottish Government “to get back to the negotiating table, respect the terms of past agreements made in good faith, and resolve this dispute.”

Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Sandesh Gulhane said the strikes were “a terrifying development that risks pushing our broken NHS over the edge.”

He urged the Scottish Government “to do everything in their power to stop this strike action from going ahead. If doctors down tools at the height of winter, the consequences will be catastrophic.”