Scotland’s resident doctors are to go on strike in a dispute over pay – the first time a national walkout has been staged by NHS workers.
Their union BMA Scotland had accused the government of reneging on a commitment to restore pay to 2008 levels.
With 92% voting in favour, strike dates have been set for 07:00 on Tuesday 13 January to 07:00 on Saturday 17 January 2026.
However, BMA Scotland said it still believed a resolution could be found and called for the Scottish government to get back to the negotiating table and present a “credible offer”.
Resident doctors – 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.
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.
Dr 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 sent a message loud and clear – the government cannot brazenly renege on its commitments without expecting to be held to account.
“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 is forcing a dispute and knowingly putting the NHS in Scotland at risk of disruptive strike action.”
