Government proposes major training reforms to end resident doctor strikes

The Government has set out a package of reforms intended to ease England’s medical training bottlenecks and end the ongoing resident doctor strikes, while the British Medical Association (BMA) has confirmed it will consult members on whether the proposals are sufficient to pause the next round of industrial action.

Ministers announced that, as part of efforts to resolve the dispute, the Government will introduce emergency legislation in the New Year to prioritise UK and Republic of Ireland medical graduates, as well as doctors who have worked in the NHS for a significant period, for specialty training places.

The Department of Health and Social Care said this change is designed to address the sharp rise in competition ratios, which have left many UK-trained graduates without a clear route into training.

The offer also includes an expansion of specialty training places from the 1,000 outlined in the 10 Year Health Plan to 4,000 over the next three years, with those posts repurposed from existing locally employed doctor roles.

A thousand of the new places would be brought forward to start in 2026. The government has also proposed funding mandatory Royal College examination and membership fees for resident doctors and increasing the less than full-time allowance by 50%.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Doctors asked me to deliver on jobs, especially unfair competition from overseas, and this comprehensive offer will deliver – providing resident doctors currently applying with more jobs, prioritising UK-trained graduates, and putting money back in the pockets of resident doctors. It builds on a 28.9% pay rise which has already been delivered.

“We have been working around the clock to prepare emergency legislation to prioritise our homegrown talent and halve the competition for jobs that resident doctors currently face – that is now on the table. But it can only happen if resident doctors vote to accept the deal and end these strikes.”

He added: “I am appealing directly to Resident doctors, who now have an opportunity to vote for more jobs, better career opportunities, more money in their pockets, and to end the strikes. I urge them to vote for this deal.”