Scottish resident doctors to strike for first time over pay
Walkout planned for January 13–17, 2026 after 92% vote in favor; government and union remain far apart on pay restoration
Resident doctors in Scotland have voted to stage the country’s first national strike by NHS workers amid a dispute over pay, with dates set for January 13 to January 17, 2026. The action follows a ballot in which 92% of those who voted backed the strike, and turnout was 58% among 5,185 eligible doctors. The walkout will run from 07:00 on Tuesday, Jan. 13, until 07:00 on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026.
Turnout was 58% with 3,008 ballots cast, and the pro-strike majority came from resident doctors who range from newly qualified to about 10 years into their careers and who make up almost half of Scotland’s medical workforce.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said he was disappointed by the result and noted he had offered to meet the BMA Scotland chairman on Monday to discuss a path to resolution. The BMA Scotland had previously said a resolution remained possible and urged the government to return to negotiations with a “credible offer.”
Dr Chris Smith, chair of the BMA’s resident doctors committee, said the ballot showed unity in anger over what the union sees as the government breaking the deal agreed two years ago. “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,” he said. He added that the government’s actions were forcing a dispute and risking disruption to the NHS in Scotland.
The government’s two-year offer to the pay review body would provide a 4.25% uplift in 2025/26 and 3.75% in 2026/27. BMA Scotland has argued the package would be the lowest in the UK and would fall short of the independent pay review body’s recommendations. In raw terms, the offer would lift the basic pay for a newly qualified doctor from £34,500 to £37,345 in 2026/27, and for a doctor with 10 years’ experience from £71,549 to £77,387. Medics on top of those figures typically receive additional payments for night shifts, weekends, or longer hours.
The union had previously said the 2023 deal was the only reason a strike had been avoided, and that restoring the pay to 2008 levels would require credible progress over the following three financial years. The Scottish government has insisted the pay uplift aligns with a broader NHS pay framework and aims to deliver significant improvements in waiting times, access to care, and patient outcomes.
England has already seen a string of strikes by NHS staff, including resident doctors, which have led to thousands of operations and procedures being cancelled. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described ongoing five-day walkouts in England as dangerous and utterly irresponsible, highlighting the cross-border pressures on the UK health service as campaigning continues in an election year.
If Scotland follows through with the proposed dates, the strike would be a major blow to the government’s pledge to reduce long waits for procedures and appointments by March 2026 and would add to pressure on an NHS already stretched by high bed occupancy and winter demand. While there remains time for negotiation, a formal walkout in Scotland would mark a historic shift in NHS industrial action across the country.
The two sides remain apart on pay restoration and future workforce planning. BMA Scotland has warned that the government’s current offer would set a precedent for future contract negotiations and training posts for resident doctors, arguing that timely and credible negotiation remains essential to avoid further disruption to patient care. The union emphasized that the strike ballot result underscored doctors’ willingness to act if commitments are not upheld, while doctors themselves stressed the importance of preserving the NHS’s ability to recruit and retain the next generation of physicians.
As the parties prepare for potential talks, health officials say the focus remains on safeguarding patient safety and maintaining essential services. The government has urged doctors to keep patients unaffected and has stressed that emergency care will be prioritized. The outcome of any talks could have implications for hospital operations, elective procedures, and waiting-time targets across Scotland ahead of the next phase of NHS planning.
