England's Junior Doctors Stage 11th Walkout Amid Pay Dispute

Thousands of junior doctors in England are staging their 11th walkout over pay and working conditions, disrupting hospital services just days before the U.K. general election. The five-day strike highlights the chronic underfunding of the NHS, a major concern for voters. Doctors' pay has dropped significantly over the last 15 years.

Thousands of junior doctors in England have launched their 11th strike amid a prolonged dispute with the government over pay and working conditions. The action, just days before the U.K. general election, has disrupted hospital services nationwide.

The five-day walkout underscores the chronic underfunding facing the National Health Service (NHS), a key issue for U.K. voters. The junior doctors' union has been in a pay standoff with the government since late 2022, with earlier strikes causing tens of thousands of cancellations of appointments and surgeries.

The British Medical Association (BMA), representing the doctors, is calling for a 35% pay raise, arguing that salaries have fallen by a quarter over the past 15 years. The government claims it offered pay raises last year but insists it can't negotiate further during the pre-election period. The BMA remains open for talks and has engaged with the opposition Labour Party, which leads in the polls.

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