Getty ImagesThe dispute over pay has led Scotland’s resident doctors to embark on a strike, marking the first national walkout by NHS workers.
Their union, BMA Scotland, had accused the government of reneging on a commitment to restore pay to 2008 levels.
92% of the voters approved the strike, setting the strike dates from 07:00 on Tuesday, January 13, to 07:00 on Saturday, January 17, 2026.
Health Secretary Neil Grey said he was disappointed by the result, adding that he had offered to meet the BMA Scotland chairman on Monday.
BMA Scotland earlier said it still believed a resolution could be found and had called for the Scottish government to get back to the negotiating table and present a “credible offer”.
Residents— who used to be called junior doctors – make up almost half of the medical workforce in Scotland.
They range from newly qualified doctors to those with up to 10 years’ experience.
Mr Grey said, “Resident doctors in Scotland have received a 4.25% pay uplift this year – as part of a two-year deal – the same as accepted by nurses and other NHS staff.
“This means by 2027, we will have delivered a cumulative pay rise of 35% in four years.
“Our top priority for our patients and the workforce is to improve waiting times, access to the NHS and positive outcomes. Industrial action will put all that progress at risk.”
Scotland had been the only part of the UK.
Scotland had been the only part of the UK to have avoided strike action by NHS workers.
With 5,185 resident doctors in Scotland eligible to vote, turnout was 58%, with a total of 3,008 votes cast.
A strike in the summer of 2023 was called off at the last minute after a deal was agreed.
As part of that, BMA Scotland said the government committed to making “credible progress” towards restoring pay to 2008 levels in each of the three following financial years.
A series of strikes by resident doctors in England has resulted in the cancellation of thousands of operations and procedures.
An ongoing five-day walkout is causing further disruption and has been described as “dangerous and utterly irresponsible” by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Any strike in Scotland would be a major blow to the Scottish government’s promise to end long waits for procedures and appointments by March 2026 and would put even more pressure on an overstretched NHS in an election year.
PA MediaDr Chris Smith, chairman of the BMA resident doctors committee, said: “The result of this ballot shows that resident doctors in Scotland are united in anger over the Scottish government breaking the deal they agreed over pay just two years ago.
“This is not where we wanted to be. However, we have made it clear that the government cannot disregard its commitments without facing accountability.
“Instead of negotiating with resident doctors to make credible progress towards pay restoration, as they agreed to do, they have imposed a pay uplift that is the lowest average award received by resident doctors anywhere in the UK.”
He said the deal the Scottish government agreed to in 2023 was the only reason strike action had been avoided.
“It was working for doctors and the health service,” he said. “By turning their backs on this deal, the Scottish government are forcing a dispute and knowingly putting the NHS in Scotland at risk of disruptive strike action.”
Dr Smith said there was still time to avoid strikes.
“BMA Scotland resident doctors remain steadfast in their commitment to upholding the deal in its entirety,” he stated.
“If we don’t take a stand now when the government has broken a commitment agreed to in good faith, they will take this as licence to do it again and again, including on issues such as contract negotiations and more training jobs for resident doctors as part of future medical workforce planning.
“This matters not just for doctors but also for patients and the future of the entire NHS in Scotland, which relies on today’s resident doctors to stay here and become the GPs, specialist doctors, and consultants of tomorrow.”
What was the Scottish government’s offer?
The two-year offer from the Scottish government was for a 4.25% increase in 2025/26 and 3.75% in 26/27.
It ‘s the same offer that nurses, paramedics and other NHS workers accepted earlier this year.
BMA Scotland stated that the offer would have been the lowest in the UK and fell short of the independent pay review body’s recommendations.
The current offer would see the basic pay for a newly qualified doctor rise from £34,500 to £37,345 for 2026/27 and for a doctor with 10 years’ experience rise from £71,549 to £77,387.
Medics will often be expected to work night shifts, weekends or longer hours for which they will receive extra payments.
