Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Junior doctors accept 22.3 per cent pay rise, strikes end

The agreement was reached after months of walkouts and protests by doctors over pay conditions.

The strikes caused over 1.5 million appointments to be cancelled, delaying treatments for many patients. (Photo: Getty Images)
The strikes caused over 1.5 million appointments to be cancelled, delaying treatments for many patients. (Photo: Getty Images)

JUNIOR doctors in England have agreed to a 22.3 per cent pay rise offered by the government, bringing an end to a series of strikes that impacted patient care across the National Health Service (NHS).

The agreement was reached after months of walkouts and protests by doctors over pay conditions, which had been affected by inflation and cost-of-living pressures.


The British Medical Association (BMA) announced on Monday that 66 per cent of junior doctors, who are below consultant level, voted in favour of the government’s proposal. The pay increase is set to be implemented over two years, marking a significant breakthrough in a long-running dispute over wage erosion since 2010.

"It should never have taken so long to get here," said the co-chairs of the BMA’s Junior Doctors' Committee, Robert Laurenson and Vivek Trivedi. They highlighted the deal as “the end of 15 years of pay erosion with the beginning of two years of modest above-inflation pay rises.” However, they added, “There is still a long way to go, with doctors remaining 20.8 per cent in real terms behind where we were in 2008.”

The strikes, which saw junior doctors take industrial action 11 times, were among several public and private sector walkouts triggered by rising inflation and a cost-of-living crisis in the UK. The strikes caused over 1.5 million appointments to be cancelled, delaying treatments for many patients. Some junior doctors, who often have several years of experience, complained that their pay was effectively less than that of coffee shop workers.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting welcomed the deal, acknowledging the strain caused by the strikes and blaming the previous Conservative government for the situation. "Things should never have been allowed to get this bad," he said. Streeting also agreed to rename junior doctors as “resident doctors” to better reflect their experience and expertise.

The Labour government, which came into power in July, moved quickly to address the strikes, proposing a substantial pay rise after several failed negotiations under the Conservative administration. The health department said that the prolonged dispute had "catastrophic impacts" on the economy and the nation’s health.

The pay changes are expected to be reflected in junior doctors’ November pay packets, with a doctor starting foundation training now set to earn £36,600, up from £32,400 prior to the deal.

As part of the agreement, the government has also committed to working with the BMA to streamline how junior doctors report additional hours worked, aiming to improve working conditions and ease administrative burdens.

With the deal in place, further strike action has been averted, particularly during the winter months when seasonal illnesses typically place extra pressure on the NHS.

(With inputs from agencies)

More For You

Norman Tebbit
Following Thatcher’s third general election victory in 1987, Tebbit stepped back from frontline politics to care for his wife. (Photo: Getty Images)

What was the Tebbit Test and why was it controversial?

LORD NORMAN TEBBIT, the former cabinet minister who introduced the controversial “cricket test” to question the loyalty of migrants, has died at the age of 94. The test, later known as the “Tebbit Test,” suggested that immigrants who supported cricket teams from their countries of origin instead of England were not fully integrated into British society. His death was confirmed on Monday by his son, William, who asked for privacy for the family.

Tebbit first spoke about the test in 1990 as a Conservative MP. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, he said, “A large proportion of Britain's Asian population fail to pass the cricket test. Which side do they cheer for? It’s an interesting test. Are you still harking back to where you came from or where you are?”

Keep ReadingShow less
Pedro Pascal

Pedro Pascal shuts down age criticism after being cast as Mister Fantastic

Instagram/fantasticfour

Pedro Pascal hits back at At Marvel fans questioning his 'Fantastic Four' casting at 50

Highlights:

  • Pedro Pascal is cast as Reed Richards in Fantastic Four: First Steps, making him the oldest actor to play the role.
  • Some Marvel fans criticised his age, claiming he’s too old to portray the superhero.
  • Pascal responded at a London fan event, saying the negativity "comes with the territory."
  • The Marvel reboot releases in cinemas on 25 July 2025 and features Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Julia Garner.

Pedro Pascal is brushing off the online criticism surrounding his casting as Reed Richards in Fantastic Four: First Steps, saying he’s focused on meeting fan expectations, even if some think he’s too old for the role. The 50-year-old The Last of Us star, who will soon join the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the stretchy genius Mister Fantastic, addressed the backlash at a fan event in London. Many social media users had argued that Pascal was miscast due to his age, but the actor says he’s learned to take the criticism in stride.

  Pedro Pascal addresses fan backlash over playing Reed Richards at 50Getty Images

Keep ReadingShow less
Kangana Ranaut

Kangana says she isn’t equal to a labourer, mother or Mukesh Ambani

Getty Images

Kangana Ranaut calls equality a delusion, says it created a "generation of morons"

Highlights:

  • Kangana Ranaut says the concept of equality has created a “generation of morons”.
  • Claims she’s not equal to Ambani, her mother, or even a labourer.
  • Her current views contradict her 2018 stance on gender equality in cinema.
  • Actor-MP to appear in a psychological thriller with R. Madhavan.

Kangana Ranaut has courted controversy again, this time with her take on equality. In a recent interview, the actor-turned-politician called the modern idea of equality “a delusion”, claiming it has produced a generation that overestimates itself. The Queen star, now an elected MP from Mandi, also argued that no one is equal to anyone, citing herself, Mukesh Ambani, her mother, and even daily-wage workers as examples of how everyone plays unique roles in society.

 Kangana Ranaut Kangana Ranaut speaks on equality and her role as a ParliamentarianGetty Images

Keep ReadingShow less
Sinner-Getty

Sinner, who has already won the US Open and Australian Open, will now face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Sinner thrashes Djokovic to reach first Wimbledon final

Highlights:

     
  • Sinner will face Carlos Alcaraz in a rematch of the French Open final
  •  
  • Djokovic admits physical struggles and injury played a role in defeat
  •  
  • Despite loss, Djokovic says he plans to return to Wimbledon next year

JANNIK SINNER defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the Wimbledon semi-final on Friday to reach his first final at the All England Club. The world number one won 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 and will face Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday’s final.

Keep ReadingShow less
bella thorne Charlie Puth

Bella Thorne says Charlie Puth launched a hate train after she refused to sleep with him

Getty Images

Bella Thorne says Charlie Puth launched a hate train after she refused to sleep with him

Highlights:

  • Bella Thorne accuses Charlie Puth of sparking a ‘hate train’ after she turned him down.
  • She claims he publicly misled fans about their brief romance in 2016.
  • Puth had previously implied she cheated on her ex Tyler Posey with him.
  • Thorne is now engaged to Mark Emms; Puth married Brooke Sansone in 2024.

Actor Bella Thorne has reignited a years-old controversy with singer Charlie Puth, accusing him of turning public opinion against her in 2016 after she refused to sleep with him. The former Disney star made the claims in an Instagram comment responding to singer Jade Thirlwall’s recent remarks about never wanting to work with Puth.

 bella thorne Charlie Puth Actress Bella Thorne and Charlie Puth attend the Y100's Jingle Ball 2016Getty Images

Keep ReadingShow less