NHS Waits at Risk as BMA Members Vote on Pay Deal

Resident doctors in England are currently voting on a government pay offer that could end three years of industrial action, or trigger a new wave of strikes from July 2026. The British Medical Association's online referendum opened on 18 June and closes at noon on 26 June, with members deciding on a package that includes an average 6.6% pay uplift to be fully delivered by April 2027, alongside 4,000 to 4,500 new substantive posts for locally employed doctors. The planned 15 to 19 June strike was called off when the government tabled the offer. If the membership votes to reject it, the BMA has stated it will escalate industrial action from July. NHS England estimates that resident doctor strikes since 2022 have resulted in more than 1.5 million cancelled or rescheduled appointments in England - a figure that could grow significantly if a new round of action begins next month.

What the Pay Offer Contains

The government's package gives resident doctors in England an average 6.6% uplift, made up of a 3.5% award from the 2026 Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body (DDRB) backdated to April 2026, plus an additional 3.1% average increase over the following ten months. The 4,000 to 4,500 new substantive posts address a separate concern about job security for locally employed doctors outside standard training programmes. A further DDRB award is expected in April 2027. The BMA confirmed the vote covers eligible resident doctors and final-year medical students across England, with results expected shortly after the 26 June noon deadline. Even if accepted, the BMA noted that full pay restoration remains its long-term policy position and members retain the right to take future dispute action.

What This Means for Patients

For patients on NHS elective waiting lists, further strikes would mean more appointment cancellations and a longer wait. During previous rounds of action, NHS England has targeted maintaining 95% of normal elective activity - meaning thousands of appointments are still deferred in any single week of a strike. According to NHS England, the cumulative effect since 2022 has been more than 1.5 million delayed or cancelled appointments. Patients have a legal right under the NHS Constitution to choose any qualified NHS trust or NHS-commissioned independent provider for their first outpatient appointment. If your GP made a referral and you are waiting, you may be able to switch to a trust with a significantly shorter list. Compare your options using the NHS Right to Choose guide on ShorterWait.

How to Find a Shorter Wait

Whether or not further strikes occur, you can search NHS hospitals by specialty and postcode to find trusts already offering shorter waits than your current referral.