Doctors in the UK launch five-day strike amid Prime Minister’s appeal

Thousands of doctors in the United Kingdom began a five-day strike on Friday following the collapse of pay negotiations with the government.

The strike, led by junior doctors, those below consultant level was launched after last-minute talks on Thursday failed to produce an agreement. Picket lines were formed outside hospitals as medical professionals voiced frustration over what they describe as years of “pay erosion.”

The latest industrial action follows a previous agreement last September, where junior doctors accepted a 22.3 percent pay increase spread over two years, shortly after the current government took office. Despite that, many in the profession argue their real-terms earnings have fallen by over 21 percent since 2008, while their workload has not decreased.

In a joint statement, leaders of the British Medical Association’s junior doctors’ committee said, “We’re not working 21 percent less hard, so why should our pay suffer?”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer appealed to the doctors on Friday, warning that the strike could put patients at risk and further strain the already burdened National Health Service (NHS). “Everyone loses if this strike goes ahead,” he said, urging doctors not to “follow” their union “down this damaging road.”

Health Minister Wes Streeting echoed the concerns, stating in an open letter that the government cannot offer more on pay this year due to financial constraints.

Last year, similar strikes led to widespread disruption across the NHS, with tens of thousands of appointments cancelled and treatments delayed. The strikes were part of broader industrial actions across various sectors in response to rising living costs and inflation.

While the government has reached agreements with other public sector workers, including teachers and train drivers, officials insist there is no further room to manoeuvre on doctors’ pay at this time.