Health leaders in England have called for an end to resident doctor strikes in 2026 following the publication of data showing the impact of recent industrial action.
Resident doctors took strike action from 7am on 17 December to 7am on 22 December after the British Medical Association (BMA) rejected the Government’s latest pay and jobs offer.
Data published on 5 January shows the scale of disruption caused by the most recent walkouts, with 95,664 staff recorded as absent during five days of industrial action in December across NHS trusts and regions in England.
Nevertheless, 94.7% of elective activity was delivered across the five days of industrial action despite winter pressures.
Responding to the figures, Rory Deighton, acute and community care director at the NHS Confederation, described the December strikes as ‘one of the most challenging for NHS staff’ as it came alongside rising flu levels, high sickness absence, ongoing operational pressures and planned annual leave.
He said the industrial action had also added significant financial strain, estimating it cost the NHS more than £200m each time to manage strike disruption.
‘This industrial action must not continue into 2026 using up scarce resources and impeding the progress needed to make inroads into reducing NHS waiting lists,’ he said.
‘The government and BMA must resume talks as soon as possible – through mediation if needed – and find a long-term solution to bring this to an end.’
Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, said the dispute must be resolved urgently: ‘We need a fix for this dispute, through mediation if necessary, and let’s see an end to NHS strikes in 2026.’
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he was determined to resolve the resident doctor dispute this year ‘for the sake of patients, staff and the whole NHS’.
‘My door is open – as it always has been – to the BMA. In 2026, let’s start with a clean slate and work together to improve working conditions for doctors, cut waiting lists, and build an NHS fit for the future,’ said Mr Streeting.
In response, Dr Jack Fletcher, chair of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, said: ‘It is good to see Mr Streeting say he wants to get round the table: it is vital this dispute is resolved for the good of doctors and patients.’
He said that the Government must bring forward credible solutions.
‘We need to see Government propose a proper fix to the jobs crisis and a credible path towards restoring the lost value of the profession. That must mean the creation of genuinely new jobs, and an end to the proposal of real terms pay cuts in three months’ time,’ said Dr Fletcher.
He added that the strikes could have been avoided if ‘valid solutions’ had been ‘on the table in time’.
‘This year, we hope Government learns from its mistakes. 2026 does not need to see thousands of doctors go on strike yet again – let’s hope there is no more Government scaremongering, and they come to the table willing to work collaboratively.’
In his New Year letter to NHS leaders , NHS England chief executive Sir Jim Mackey thanked colleagues for managing the disruption.
‘This is a testament to your leadership and to the efforts of those staff who have been working flat out to deliver care for patients,’ he said.
