Resident doctors across the United Kingdom commenced a five-day strike on Friday, defying a last-minute appeal from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to halt what he described as a “damaging course” of industrial action.
Led by the British Medical Association (BMA), the walkout began at 7 a.m. and marks the latest escalation in an ongoing dispute over pay, working conditions, and the long-term sustainability of the National Health Service (NHS).
In an article published in The Times on Thursday night, Prime Minister Starmer warned that the strike could derail critical efforts to revive the NHS and compromise patient care. “This path the BMA Resident Doctors Committee has taken benefits no one,” he wrote. “My plea to resident doctors is this: don’t follow the BMA down this harmful road. Our NHS and patients rely on you.”
Despite the plea, doctors—previously referred to as junior doctors—insist the strike is a necessary response to years of pay erosion and increasing financial and workplace pressures.
Dr. Melissa Ryan, co-chair of the BMA’s UK Resident Doctors Committee, defended the strike action, stating that many young medics are battling debt as living costs soar. “We work grueling shifts, cover unsociable hours, and are relocated constantly—yet many still struggle to afford rent,” she said. “Since 2008, our pay has dropped by 21%. It’s the equivalent of working one day a week without pay.”
NHS officials have acknowledged that the strike will cause widespread disruption. Louise Stead, Chief Executive of Ashford and St Peter’s and Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trusts, told BBC Radio 4 that approximately 500 patient appointments are being rescheduled, though urgent and emergency services would remain functional.
Public support for the doctors remains strong in some quarters. Outside St Thomas’ Hospital in London, retired nurse and campaigner Dave Bell stood in solidarity with demonstrators. “Doctors are the backbone of the NHS,” he said. “Anyone who’s been in a hospital knows how tirelessly they work.”
The strike is expected to continue through Wednesday, July 30, unless an agreement is reached in the interim.
Tags: NHS, BMA, UK doctors strike, Keir Starmer, healthcare crisis, labor rights, resident doctors, public health
