England’s resident doctors begin five-day strike

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Caolán MageeDecember 17, 2025 at 07:14 PM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

Resident doctors in England, represented by the British Medical Association (BMA), began a five-day strike on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, due to a dispute over pay and working conditions. The BMA is calling for improved pay and more job opportunities for qualified doctors. Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized the strike as "dangerous and utterly irresponsible," urging doctors to work with the government to improve the National Health Service (NHS). Approximately 30,000 BMA members voted to reject the government's proposal, leading to the industrial action that will continue until Monday. The strike occurs amidst rising flu-related hospitalizations and warnings of a severe flu season, placing increased pressure on the NHS.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Keir Starmer ×4100% British Medical Association ×3100% NHS ×2100%

Keywords

resident doctors strike 100% pay dispute 80% british medical association 70% working conditions 70% job crisis 60% nhs 60% healthcare 50% flu season 40%