Resident doctors in England accept pay deal and end strikes

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Resident doctors in England accept pay deal and end strikesImage source, EPAByMichelle RobertsDigital health editorPublished29 June 2026, 17:42 BSTUpdated Just nowResident doctors in England have voted to accept the government's offer on pay and jobs, bringing an end to three years of strikes. The offer includes more training jobs, faster pay progression and a plan to cover out-of-pocket expenses like exam fees. Patients have seen hundreds of thousands appointments cancelled due to industrial action over the past few years.

Some 53% of eligible British Medical Association members voted in favour in a referendum. The turnout was 57%, with 32,932 doctors voting. The offer includes a 3.

The Details

5% pay rise this year, as recommended by an independent review body. Resident doctors will get backdated pay to 1 April 2026, worth an average increase of 4. 9% under the wider package, according to government.

The pay rise would grow to an average 6. 6% by April 2027, with a further ​increase to follow, the union ​said. It means starting salaries will be just over £40,000, with the most senior resident doctors getting £76,500 in basic pay.

They can earn thousands more each year for things like working unsociable times and additional hours. In addition, 4,500 extra training places for newly qualified doctors have been promised and doctors' exam fees will be paid. The BMA's resident doctors committee chair Dr Jack Fletcher said: "These strikes did not need to happen.

What Experts Say

"We spent far too long at loggerheads with the government when a solution in everyone's interest was waiting for us: more jobs for doctors, better pay for doctors, and a better-staffed NHS secured for patients well into the future. "This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

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The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.