“Rather than demonise doctors and feign outrage over staff taking industrial action for demanding adequate financial compensation for taking on extra work, the Government should reflect on its own role in the current disastrous state of the NHS.”
By Keep Our NHS Public (KONP)
Resident Doctors in the BMA in England are once again taking industrial action as part of their long-running campaign for pay restoration to 2008 levels.
They will strike from tomorrow morning, 7am on 25th July to 7am on 30th July and are demanding a staged pay rise to restore their pay in line with inflation.
Fareed Al Qusous, 26, an academic foundation doctor from the south-west of England, said:
“No doctor wants to take strike action: it is a last resort, and it is entirely within the government’s hands to prevent these upcoming strikes. No other professional in any industry is paid less than their assistants, except doctors. We are simply asking for a first-year doctor, who currently earns £17 per hour, to be paid £22.50 per hour.”
BMA members voted 90% in favour of striking, with a 55% turnout. The strikes aren’t only about pay either, and these NHS doctors have many grievances about their working conditions too.
It is expected that tens of thousands will take part in the five-day strike and as ever, KONP encourages all its members and supporters to get along to a picket line to show your support.
Poor NHS performance and haemorrhaging away of staff must be addressed through proper funding, filling vacancies and improving working conditions.
KONP believes that the solutions proposed by the Government in its recent 10 Year Plan, which focus on prevention, technology, and Artificial Intelligence does not alter this reality.
Rather than demonise doctors and feign outrage over staff taking industrial action for demanding adequate financial compensation for taking on extra work, the Government should reflect on its own role in the current disastrous state of the NHS, including the 16,000 or so people dying each year from being stuck in Emergency Departments.
- Details of picket lines at selected hospitals can be found here.
- KONP will always stand by NHS staff as we know they are the beating heart of our NHS. Read our full statement here.
- This article was reproduced from Keep Our NHS Public on 24 July 2025.
