Doctors in England Agree on New Pay Deal
Resident doctors in England accepted a new pay agreement to end their three years of strikes. More than thirty-two thousand union members voted, with fifty-three percent accepting the deal. Starting salaries will increase to over forty thousand pounds, and senior pay rises. In Scotland, doctors accepted a deal, but Northern Ireland doctors started a short strike.
Resident doctors in England accepted a new pay offer. This important decision ended three years of difficult strikes. In the past, the strikes caused many cancelled appointments. Patients missed hundreds of thousands of medical appointments. Now, the doctors will go back to normal work.
The British Medical Association represents all of these doctors. More than thirty-two thousand members voted in the referendum. About fifty-seven percent of the eligible doctors voted. Then, fifty-three percent of these voters accepted the offer.
Under this deal, starting salaries will be over forty thousand pounds. The most senior resident doctors will receive seventy-six thousand five hundred pounds. In addition, doctors will earn extra money for working late hours. The government will also pay for doctors' exam fees. They will offer four thousand five hundred new training places.
Resident doctors finished their medical degrees at university. After that, they completed two years of foundation training. Many of these doctors now specialise in specific medical areas. They work in emergency rooms and doctor offices. In September 2024, the government changed their official job name. They changed it to resident doctors to show their expertise.
James Murray is the Health and Social Care Secretary. He called this new agreement good for everyone.
Other parts of the UK have a different situation. In Scotland, the doctors accepted a similar pay offer. Doctors in Wales do not strike, but they want to discuss pay. In Northern Ireland, doctors started a short Monday strike. This specific strike lasted for twenty-four hours in June.
Jack Fletcher leads the BMA resident doctors committee. He declared these strikes did not need to happen. A good solution was always waiting for the doctors.
Take a position. Out loud, if you can.
Four ways to start. Pick one and try saying it before you scroll on.
Tip · Record yourself, use in a notebook, or practice with a language partner.
What percentage of BMA members voted in the referendum?
Past Simple for Completed Actions
We use the Past Simple to describe finished events and actions in the past.
“Resident doctors finished their medical degrees at university.”
What to know · A2
Try saying this aloud
Scenario: You are discussing a past decision or project with your colleagues.
- 01“This decision ended our problems.”
- 02“We accepted the new offer.”
- 03“A good solution was always waiting.”
Register tip · semi-formal
🔑Key Phrases
Shows the duration of the labor dispute that was resolved.
The agreement ended three years of difficult strikes.
💬Discussion Questions
Open-ended questions to talk or write about — alone, with a partner, or in class.
- 1
Why do you think doctors decided to strike for three years?
Opinion - 2
How does the health system in your country compare to the UK system?
Compare - 3
What will happen if the government does not offer enough training places?
Predict - 4
Is pay or a good job name more important for professionals?
Opinion - 5
How would you feel if a strike cancelled your doctor appointment?
Personal - 6
Why is foundation training necessary before a doctor can specialise?
Evaluate - 7
What challenges do emergency room doctors face compared to other doctors?
Compare - 8
Will this agreement prevent all future strikes in England?
Predict
Adapted from BBC Health · Read the original. LectoPress rewrites the facts as original graded-reader text for language learners.
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