Rising Tensions in the NHS: Nurses, GPs, and Doctors Prepare for More Industrial Action
The National Health Service (NHS) is facing growing unrest as key healthcare professionals prepare for potential strikes. Nurses, general practitioners (GPs), and resident doctors are increasingly frustrated with the government’s handling of pay and working conditions, leading to a wave of industrial action that could disrupt patient care.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) recently announced that its members have rejected a proposed 3.6% pay increase for the 2025/26 financial year. The decision came after a significant majority of nurses voted against the offer, with 91% of respondents opposing it. Over 170,000 staff participated in the vote, marking a record turnout of 56%. This overwhelming rejection highlights deep dissatisfaction among nursing staff, who feel undervalued and underpaid.
Professor Nicola Ranger, the RCN’s general secretary and chief executive, emphasized that nurses are “deeply undervalued.” The RCN has warned that if the government fails to address concerns over pay and working conditions this summer, it will consider holding another vote on industrial action. The organization is urging ministers to invest in the NHS and ensure fair treatment for its workforce.
Meanwhile, the British Medical Association (BMA) has reported that GPs are preparing to escalate their demands. They have outlined six key requirements for the government by mid-September to avoid a strike. These include leading new “community hubs” as part of the government’s 10-Year Health Plan and securing a new funding agreement for GP practices. The hubs aim to reduce pressure on hospitals by offering same-day appointments and walk-in dental care, but there is still uncertainty about who will manage them.
GPs are concerned about hospital leaders attempting to take control of the hubs and are seeking clarity on leadership roles. They have written to health secretary Wes Streeting and health minister Stephen Kinnock, outlining their demands related to pay, contract funding, and additional resources for managing the hubs. Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, chair of the BMA’s GP committee, described the situation as a “critical juncture,” warning that without changes, the independent contractor model of general practice may collapse.
Other demands from GPs include policies to reduce unemployment among family doctors and reforms to the clinical negligence scheme. These issues reflect broader concerns about the sustainability of the current system.
This comes just days after resident doctors ended a five-day strike over pay. Despite receiving above-inflation pay increases totaling 28.9% over the past three years, they have not ruled out further action. Consultants are currently being balloted on their willingness to strike, while healthcare workers represented by the GMB and Unite unions, including paramedics, have also rejected their pay offers.
The RCN has highlighted ongoing challenges such as widespread vacancies, limited career progression, and years of pay erosion. It urges the government to use the summer to negotiate an investment plan or face formal escalation to a dispute and a ballot on industrial action. Professor Ranger stressed that keeping experienced nursing staff is a safety issue and essential for the NHS’s long-term vision.
Nurses in Wales and Northern Ireland also rejected the same pay award, according to the RCN. Professor Ranger added that nurses deliver the majority of care across all services and deserve recognition for their skills and experience. To prevent further action, the government must address the outdated pay structure that limits career growth.
Rory Deighton, acute and community care director at the NHS Confederation, expressed disappointment at the threat of more strikes, especially after recent disruptions caused by resident doctors’ walkouts. He emphasized that patients suffer the most during industrial action and urged the government to respond quickly to the RCN’s demands to avoid further disruption.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson stated that nurses have received two above-inflation pay rises and that new full-time nurses will earn £30,000 for the first time this year. While acknowledging the value of nurses, the spokesperson noted that the government cannot move further on headline pay but is willing to work on improving pay structures and working conditions.
Nurses have previously staged significant strikes over pay in 2022 and 2023. In June 2023, a planned ballot for further strikes failed to meet the legal threshold. Recent public opinion surveys show a divided view on whether nurses should strike, with 19% strongly supporting and 28% somewhat supporting the action, while 23% strongly oppose and 20% somewhat oppose it.