UK resident doctors accept government pay and training deal, ending strikes

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UK doctors accept pay deal

Highlights

Resident doctors accepted a government deal following a British Medical Association vote, raising pay by 35.2% on average versus four years ago and introducing a revised pay progression structure.
The package includes up to 4,500 additional training places, reimbursement for mandatory Royal College portfolio and examination fees, and measures to improve conditions for Locally Employed Doctors and part-time staff.
Industrial action ends, with the government estimating NHS strike days cost around £50 million each, and waiting lists now over 400,000 lower than in June 2024 despite previous strikes.

Pay reform and workforce measures

As reported by GOV.UK, the agreement is accepted by resident doctors after a British Medical Association vote and is set to reshape pay progression and training opportunities across the NHS. The government says the deal raises resident doctor pay by 35.2% on average compared with four years ago and introduces a pay structure that delivers more frequent wage increases as doctors gain skills and advance through training.

The package also creates up to 4,500 additional training places, aimed at improving progression into more senior roles. The government says competition rates for training places have already halved this year after urgent legislation prioritises UK graduates and doctors who have spent a significant period in the NHS.

Resident doctors are also due to receive reimbursement for mandatory Royal College portfolio fees and mandatory examination costs, which the government says are often worth thousands of pounds. The measures also include changes intended to improve conditions for Locally Employed Doctors and for those working Less Than Full Time.

NHS impact and wider labour relations

Health and Social Care Secretary James Murray says the settlement allows the NHS to move beyond months of disruption and focus on rebuilding services, while NHS National Medical Director Professor Frankie Swords says the deal helps the health service avoid further strike-related pressure. The government says ending the dispute lets the NHS concentrate on supporting patients and improving working conditions rather than managing industrial action.

According to the government, each day of strike action by resident doctors costs the NHS around £50 million, making the cost of the settlement a fraction of the expense of continued disruption. It also says the end of strikes prevents thousands of appointments and procedures from being cancelled on each day of industrial action.

The announcement comes as the government says waiting lists are more than 400,000 lower than in June 2024 despite repeated strike rounds and record demand linked to warm weather. Ministers also say they continue discussions with unions on consultant contract reform, SAS career progression and possible changes to the Agenda for Change pay structure covering nurses, midwives and paramedics.

Our earlier coverage of the NHS resident doctors’ pay settlement in England explained how a government offer was accepted after multiple rounds of industrial action, bringing the walkouts to an end. We noted that the deal set out staged pay increases through April 2027 and included plans for up to 4,500 additional specialty training places, easing pressure on NHS finances and waiting lists.

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