[An image of a doctor with a stethoscope. Photo credit to Unsplash]

At 7:00 AM on December 17th, thousands of resident doctors in England began a five-day strike. 

The strike marks the 14th walkout by resident doctors since March of 2023, adding up to a total of 59 days of disruption to medical services. 

The walkout has led to the cancellation of thousands of non-urgent appointments and elective procedures, although emergency services were maintained. 

The timing of the strike coincided with the increase of influenza cases in England, with hospitals reporting some of the highest flu patient numbers in recent years. 

Experts were worried that staff shortages and the seasonal illness would overstretch the already busy medical services. 

The strike was organized by the British Medical Association (BMA), which represents resident doctors. 

Resident doctors, also known as junior doctors, make up around half of all doctors in the National Health Service (NHS), and are physicians that have graduated medical school but are undergoing specialized training to become experts in a specific field. 

The current industrial action reflects frustration among doctors over inadequate pay, working conditions and limited opportunities for career growth.

The union has called for an increase in pay to reflect the rising costs of living and warned that the low pay is driving doctors out of the NHS or to work abroad. 

In recent negotiations, the government offered expanded specialist training places and funding for training-related costs, but did not propose any additional increases in pay.

Approximately 83% of the union members rejected the offer, saying it did not address the core issue they were fighting for. 

Doctors are also raising complaints about the shortage of workers and training bottlenecks.

They argue that the long hours and limited career progression are making the profession more and more unsustainable and unappealing.  

The strike has sparked significant debate.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting remarked that the BMA had chosen to strike at the “worst possible time,” referring to the rising flu cases, to have the “maximum impact and damage to the NHS.” 

Streeting criticized the strike as “irresponsible” and even “dangerous.” 

In response, the BMA accused Streeting of playing on the fear of patients and the public when he should instead focus on working with resident doctors to come to a resolution. 

They also justified the strike by stating that patient safety is already vulnerable due to understaffing and burnout of doctors.

NHS England assured that emergency care remained available and encouraged the public to use NHS 111 for urgent but non-life-threatening issues.

To cope with the strike, they redeployed senior doctors and asked the public to use emergency services responsibly during the strike period. 

Health officials also renewed calls for people to get flu vaccinations quickly to ease pressure on hospitals.

The NHS offered free flu vaccinations in pop-up clinics, such as those found in Christmas markets, shopping centers, sports matches and schools. 

“Staff will come together as they always do, going above and beyond to provide safe care for patients and limit disruption,” said Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS England’s National Medical Director. 

The BMA defended the strike by stating that patient safety is already vulnerable due to understaffing and burnout of doctors.

They further argued that meaningful pay reform is necessary to keep up the quality of healthcare in the UK.

As the strike concludes, it seems likely that there will be more negotiations in early 2026.