Resident Doctors in Scotland Vote to Strike for First Time Over Pay Dispute
Resident doctors in Scotland have voted in favour of strike action for the first time over pay, as their counterparts in England stage a five-day walkout. British Medical Association (BMA) Scotland confirmed the strike will run from 7am on 13 January to 7am on 17 January 2026.
The union said the Scottish Government cannot “brazenly renege” on its commitments without being “held to account,” but added it still hopes for a negotiated resolution. Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray said he was disappointed by the result and had offered to meet the BMA Scotland chairman on Monday.
A five-week ballot with resident doctors revealed that almost 92% of those who voted were in favour of strike action. With 5,185 resident doctors in Scotland eligible to vote, turnout was 58% with a total of 3,008 votes cast.
Dr Chris Smith, chairman of the BMA’s Scottish 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.
Strikes by resident doctors in England have forced the cancellation of thousands of operations and procedures. An ongoing five-day walkout, ending at 7am on Monday 22 December, is adding to the disruption. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the action “dangerous and utterly irresponsible.”
The strikes come amid a record flu season, with NHS leaders warning of a “huge strain on hospitals” and further delays to care. 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 December 22.
“Resident doctors in Scotland have received a 4.25% 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% 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.”
Resident doctors, previously called junior doctors, make up almost half of the medical workforce in Scotland. A resident doctor can be newly qualified or have up to 10 years’ experience.