England's resident doctors plan four-day strike in June over pay

Resident doctors across England will walk out for four days next month in their 16th strike over pay and working conditions. The stoppage begins at 7 am on Monday 15 June and ends at 6:59 am on Friday 19 June, the BMA doctors' union announced.

The BMA has warned of "more strike dates in July" if negotiations do not progress. The latest action follows the breakdown of talks between the new health and social care secretary, James Murray, and the BMA's Resident Doctors Committee (RDC).

Officials at the BMA said Murray refused to offer any money beyond what his predecessor, Wes Streeting, had already proposed. Murray expressed disappointment at the decision to strike, calling it "unnecessary and unreasonable strike action."

RDC chair Jack Fletcher had expressed hope that the change in health secretary would bring "a change in approach." The union has been in dispute with the government over junior doctors' pay and conditions for more than a year.

This will be the longest continuous series of strikes by the union in its recent history. Junior doctors in England have staged repeated walkouts since June 2023 over pay rises they say have not kept pace with inflation.