Junior doctors in England back six more months of strike action over pay

Junior doctors in England have overwhelmingly voted in favour (98%) of extending their mandate for industrial action over pay for another six months, meaning that they can now strike up to 19 September, the BMA has announced. The ballot also approved the use of action short of striking.

Nearly 34 000 doctors (62%) voted in the ballot, around 10 000 fewer than last August’s turnout of 43 440 (71.25%),1 although this is still well above the 50% minimum turnout needed for a mandate.

In a statement the BMA Junior Doctors Committee co-chairs, Robert Laurenson and Vivek Trivedi, said, “The government should see the urgency of the situation. Rather than waste time dragging out talks, they can come …