Resident doctors, formally known as junior doctors, have announced they will be walking out on strike for five consecutive dates at the end of July.
The planned industrial action will take place from July 25-30, giving the government two weeks to negotiate with the BMA in efforts to avert the planned walkouts.
The result of the strike ballot, announced on Tuesday, saw 90% of voting resident doctors back strike action, with the BMA reporting a turnout of 55%.
Co-chairs of the BMA resident doctors, Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt, said they had met with the Health Secretary Wes Streeting, but the government had been unwilling to move on pay.
In a statement, they wrote: “We met Wes Streeting yesterday and made every attempt to avoid strike action by opening negotiations for pay restoration.
“Unfortunately, the Government has stated that it will not negotiate on pay, wanting to focus on non-pay elements without suggesting what these might be.
“Without a credible offer to keep us on the path to restore our pay, we have no choice but to call strikes.
“No doctor wants to strike, and these strikes don’t have to go ahead.
“If Mr Streeting can seriously come to the table in the next two weeks we can ensure that no disruption is caused.
“The Government knows what is needed to avert strikes. The choice is theirs.”
