England resident doctors accept pay deal ending NHS strikes

Resident doctors in England have voted to accept a government offer on pay and working conditions, ending a protracted industrial dispute that has led to repeated strikes and widespread disruption across the National Health Service. The British Medical Association announced the result of its referendum on Monday, June 29, 2026.

The vote, which concluded on June 26, saw 53% of eligible members back the deal, with a turnout of 57%. The agreement brings to a close a dispute that began in 2023 and involved more than a dozen rounds of strike action, including 21 days of walkouts since July 2025. A planned four-day strike in mid-June was suspended to allow the vote to proceed.

The accepted package includes a 3.5% pay rise for the 2026-27 period, with backdated pay to April 1, 2026. The government states this results in an average immediate increase of 4.9%. The wider deal commits to an average pay uplift of 6.6% to be fully implemented by April 2027. According to officials, this will mean resident doctor pay is, on average, 35.2% higher than it was four years ago.

Beyond pay, the agreement promises 4,500 extra specialty training places over three years, faster pay progression, and the...