Resident doctors in Scotland to go on strike for first time

Scotland’s resident doctors will go on strike over pay dispute; This marks the first national strike by NHS workers.

Their union, BMA Scotland, had accused the government of reneging on its pledge to return wages to 2008 levels.

With 92% votes in favour, the strike dates were set between 07:00 on Tuesday, January 13, and 07:00 on Saturday, January 17, 2026.

Health Secretary Neil Gray said he was disappointed with the outcome and offered to meet the BMA Scotland chairman on Monday.

BMA Scotland has previously said it still believes a solution can be found and called on the Scottish government to return to the negotiating table and present a “credible offer”.

Junior doctors, formerly junior doctors, make up almost half of the medical workforce in Scotland.

They range from newly qualified doctors to those with up to 10 years of experience.

Mr Gray said: “Junior doctors in Scotland received a 4.25% pay rise this year, the same as that accepted by nurses and other NHS staff, as part of a two-year deal.

“This means we will achieve a cumulative 35% wage increase over the four years to 2027.

“Our top priority for our patients and workforce is to improve waiting times, access to the NHS and positive outcomes. Industrial action will put all this progress at risk.”

Scotland was the only part of the UK where NHS workers avoided strike action.

In the election where 5,185 assistant doctors had the right to vote in Scotland, a total of 3,008 votes were cast and the turnout was 58%.

Strike in summer 2023 canceled at the last minute after an agreement is reached.

As part of this, BMA Scotland said the government was committed to making “credible progress” towards restoring wages to 2008 levels in each of the next three financial years.

A series of strikes by UK based doctors It led to the cancellation of thousands of operations and procedures.

The ongoing five-day work stoppage is causing further disruption and is described as: “dangerous and completely irresponsible” By Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Any strike in Scotland would be a major blow to the Scottish government’s promise to end long waits for procedures and appointments by March 2026, putting further pressure on an overstretched NHS in an election year.

BMA junior doctors committee chairman Dr. Chris Smith said: “The result of this vote shows that junior doctors in Scotland are united in anger that the Scottish government has broken the agreement they agreed on pay just two years ago.

“This is not where we want to be. But 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 junior doctors to make credible progress on pay restoration, as they agreed to do, they implemented a pay rise that is the lowest average reward junior doctors have received anywhere in the UK.”

He said the only reason strike action was avoided was because of the deal the Scottish government had agreed to in 2023.

“He was working for doctors and health care,” he said. “By turning its back on this agreement, the Scottish government is forcing the dispute and knowingly putting the NHS in Scotland at risk of a devastating strike.”

Dr Smith said there was still time to prevent strikes.

“BMA Scotland-based doctors will remain committed to the agreement once it is ratified in its entirety,” he said.

“If we don’t take a stand now when the government has broken an accepted commitment in good faith, they will take this as permission to do it again and again, including on issues such as contract negotiations and more training jobs for junior doctors as part of future medical workforce planning.

“This is important not just for doctors, but for patients and the future of the entire NHS in Scotland, which relies on today’s junior doctors to stay and become tomorrow’s GPs, specialist doctors and consultants.”

The Scottish government’s two-year offer was for a 4.25% increase in 2025/26 and a 3.75% increase in 26/27.

This is the same offer that nurses, paramedics and other NHS workers accepted earlier this year.

BMA Scotland said this would be the lowest level in the UK and less than recommended by the independent pay review body.

current offer basic salary an increase from £34,500 to £37,345 for 2026/27 for a newly qualified doctor, and from £71,549 to £77,387 for a doctor with 10 years’ experience.

Paramedics are often expected to work night shifts, weekends, or longer hours for which they will receive extra pay.