Resident doctors in Scotland vote to go on strike for first time following British Medical Association ballot

Resident doctors in Scotland have voted “overwhelmingly” to go on strike for first time over a pay dispute with the Scottish Government.

The British Medical Association in Scotland announced on Friday that thousands of resident doctors voted in favour of strike action, with the five-week ballot receiving a turnout of 58%, with 92% voting in favour of walkouts.

The professional body has said it still believes it is possible for a resolution to be found and strike action avoided.

It is calling on the Scottish Government to return to the negotiating table and present a “credible offer” that the BMA believes could be put to its members.

If a “credible offer” is not forthcoming, BMA Scotland confirmed resident doctors will strike from 7am on Tuesday, January 13 to 7am on Saturday, January 17.

“The result of this ballot shows that resident doctors in Scotland are united in anger over the Scottish Government breaking the deal they agreed over pay just two years ago,” Dr Chris Smith, chair of the BMA’s Scottish Resident Doctor Committee, said.

“This is not where we wanted to be. However, we have sent a message loud and clear – the Government cannot brazenly renege on its commitments without expecting to be held to account.”

Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane urged ministers to do everything in their power to stop the strike action from going ahead.

“If doctors down tools at the height of winter, the consequences will be catastrophic,” Gulhane warned.

Scottish resident doctors were told in November that Holyrood would not negotiate and “cannot go further” on pay, regardless of any potential strike action.

Scottish health secretary Neil Gray previously stated that further progress towards pay restoration is “not possible” at present.

Gray made resident doctors a pay offer of 4.25% for 2025-26, with a further 3.75% for the next financial year.

The professional association for GPs believes the offer, which is below inflation, “throws away” the progress made in restoring pay over the last two years.

It comes down to what the BMA calls the “erosion” of funding provided to general practice since 2008.

In 2023, the BMA said Scotland avoided resident doctor strikes seen in other UK countries because the Scottish Government pledged to make “credible progress” towards pay restoration.

However, resident doctors entered a formal dispute with the Scottish Government in June, claiming ministers had reneged on this commitment.

“The deal that the Scottish Government agreed in 2023 was the only reason strike action which we have seen elsewhere in the UK has been avoided,” Dr Smith said.

“It was working for doctors and the health service. By turning their backs on this deal, the Scottish Government is forcing a dispute and knowingly putting the NHS in Scotland at risk of disruptive strike action.

“By some measures this is a real-terms pay cut and even under optimistic forecasts, it will take decades to achieve pay restoration. That is completely unacceptable.”

BMA Scotland said resident doctors are asking for the Government to deliver a pay deal which will provide a “meaningful, continued and credible” step towards addressing pay erosion, which resident doctors say they have experienced since 2008.

During strikes, BMA Scotland said patient care for urgent and emergency services is provided, and it is for health boards to arrange. The professional body said a process of derogation is in place, should boards need to recall doctors to work.