The ballot of resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, in Scotland on strike action has been announced today amid an ongoing pay dispute with the Scottish Government.
The Scottish Resident Doctor Committee confirmed the ballot will open on Friday, 14 November and run until Friday, 19 December 2025.
The decision comes after the British Medical Association (BMA) accused the Scottish Government of backtracking on a 2023 pay agreement, which had pledged “credible progress” toward restoring doctors’ pay.
Dr Chris Smith, Chair of BMA’s Scottish Resident Doctor Committee, said: “Doctors have been shocked that the Scottish Government appears intent on undoing the progress made in restoring our pay over the last two years. We are clear that we will stand up to protect the deal agreed in good faith by both sides.
“As always, we remain ready to negotiate at any time and any place. But we will not sit idle while the Scottish Government attempts to break the agreement struck with Scottish resident doctors in 2023.”
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The ballot will open on the same day as the next scheduled strikes by resident doctors in England, who are campaigning for full pay restoration.
Until now, Scotland has been the only nation in the UK to avoid industrial action. However, the outcome of this ballot could mark a historic moment for the Scottish medical workforce.
Dr Smith added: “I know I speak for all Scottish doctors when I say we stand in solidarity with our colleagues south of the border. The Scottish Government now has the opportunity to distinguish itself from Westminster, and all it requires is a return to the negotiating table with BMA Scotland, in good faith, with a credible pay offer aligned with the promises made in the 2023 agreement.
“Unfortunately, until now, the response from the Scottish Government has been disappointing. Our requests to return to negotiations with a serious offer have been ignored. I have written to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care again to inform him of the ballot dates and hope that this time the Government will take the necessary steps to reverse decisions that are putting NHS Scotland on the path to disruptive strike action.”
The Scottish Government government’s proposed 4.25% pay increase for 2025–26 was deemed insufficient by the British Medical Association as they claim this falls below an independent review body’s recommendation and effectively cuts pay in real terms.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “Industrial action would be in no-one’s best interests, least of all the patients who rely on our NHS.
“I respect the BMA’s right to pursue this course of action, but I remain disappointed that they have chosen to be in dispute with the Scottish Government. I encourage the BMA’s resident doctor membership to reject the option of industrial action."
Mr Gray said he made a "fair, affordable, equitable" pay offer of 4.25% for 2025/26, with a further 3.75% for 2026/27.
He added: "This is the same offer that nurses and other NHS staff chose to accept earlier this year and shows the value we also place on the role that resident doctors play in our hospitals and health clinics.
“We have invested significantly in Resident Doctors pay over the last two years, agreeing an uplift of 12.4% for 2023/24 and a cumulative uplift of 11% for 2024/25.
“These were the highest pay awards across the Public Sector that, I believe, were justified to begin the process of delivering on the 2023 agreement in good faith. We remain absolutely committed to honouring that agreement.
“We are also investing an additional £110 million to tackle waiting times and the latest figures show our plan is working with total waiting list size reducing. Any industrial action by resident doctors would hinder our progress on that.”
