The Scottish government has confirmed it will continue pay negotiations with resident doctors throughout the Christmas and New Year period, as the prospect of the first nationwide doctors’ strike in Scotland draws closer. The move comes after medics voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action that could begin in January if talks fail.
Resident doctors, previously known as junior doctors, backed a four-day strike following a ballot that closed last week. The planned walkout would run from the morning of 13 January to 17 January 2026 and would mark the first national strike by doctors within NHS Scotland.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said discussions with BMA Scotland had already shown progress, but acknowledged more work was needed. He stressed that both sides were keen to avoid disruption during winter, traditionally one of the most pressured periods for health services.
Gray said he was willing to examine compromises during the coming weeks and confirmed negotiations would continue through the holiday period. While he pointed to “substantial” improvements in doctors’ pay since a deal was reached in 2023, he accepted that unresolved issues remain.
The BMA described recent talks as constructive but warned that time is running out. Dr Chris Smith, chair of the resident doctors committee at BMA Scotland, said further negotiations were essential if strike action was to be avoided. He emphasised that doctors had delivered a clear message through the ballot and expected urgent movement from the government.
Resident doctors account for nearly half of Scotland’s medical workforce. They range from newly qualified clinicians to doctors with a decade or more of experience. Scotland has so far avoided the large-scale NHS strikes seen elsewhere in the UK, including England, where repeated walkouts have led to thousands of cancelled procedures.
Tensions have resurfaced after doctors accused the Scottish government of stepping back from a commitment made in 2023 to restore pay levels to where they stood in 2008. The most recent ballot recorded a 58% turnout of eligible doctors, with 92% voting in favour of strike action.
The government’s current two-year pay offer includes a 4.25% rise for 2025/26 and 3.75% for 2026/27. While similar terms were accepted earlier this year by nurses, paramedics, and other NHS staff, BMA Scotland argues the deal would leave resident doctors with the lowest offer in the UK and below recommendations from the independent pay review body.
Under the proposal, a newly qualified doctor’s basic salary would rise to just over £37,000 by 2026/27. Doctors with around 10 years’ experience would see pay approach £77,000, excluding additional payments for nights, weekends, and longer shifts.
Dr Lucas O’Donnell, deputy chair of the resident doctors committee, said doctors’ pay has fallen in real terms for more than a decade. He argued that current hourly rates do not reflect the responsibility doctors carry, including managing large numbers of patients and responding to life-threatening emergencies.
He also warned that poor pay risks driving doctors overseas, with many leaving for countries such as Australia and Canada. Retention, he said, is now a critical issue for Scotland’s health service.
While Gray rejected claims that the government has broken the 2023 agreement, he acknowledged doctors want a stronger offer. Health boards are already preparing contingency plans should the strike go ahead, though officials admit disruption would be unavoidable.
With talks continuing through Christmas, the coming weeks may prove decisive for the future of industrial relations in NHS Scotland.
