ENGLAND — Resident doctors in England called off a planned four-day strike, which was scheduled to begin on Monday, 15 June, and end on Friday, 19 June. The British Medical Association (BMA) announced on Saturday that a new government offer would be presented to its members for a vote.

The canceled industrial action would have constituted the 16th round of strikes by resident doctors since 2023. The government's new offer includes standard 2016 contract terms for all locally employed resident doctors, along with an average pay increase of 6.6%, which is slated for full implementation by April 2027.

Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA's resident doctors committee, said, "We have always been clear that no strikes needed to go ahead if we received an offer appropriate to put to our members. This should not have been left to the last moment, but we hold up our end of the bargain when the government shifts its position." He added, "Tens of thousands of frontline doctors will now vote in a referendum on whether this offer is sufficient."

Health Secretary James Murray said, "It is a positive and welcome development – especially for patients – that the BMA have called off these unnecessary strikes." Murray said, "The country simply cannot afford to increase the pay offer for this year." Resident doctors have received pay increases totaling 33% over the past four years, including a 3.5% increase this year. The BMA states that resident doctor pay remains 20% lower in real terms compared to 2008 after adjusting for inflation. Starting salaries for resident doctors are over £40,000, and senior resident doctors receive £76,500 in basic pay.