“Completely Unreasonable”
The Possible Impact of the BMA Resident Doctor Committee’s Proposed Industrial Action
July 21, 2025
A new analysis from Policy Exchange lays bare the widespread disruption that BMA strikes, scheduled to begin on Friday 25th July, could cause to patients.
- The analysis – based on an investigation of data published on industrial action by NHS England from 2023/4 suggests that almost a quarter of a million appointments across the NHS in England will be affected at the end of July alone.
- Were strikes to occur throughout 2025 (and until January 2026 when the current BMA strike mandate runs out), at a similar frequency and level of disruption to those which occurred between 2023-4, Policy Exchange suggest over 2 million appointments across the NHS in England could be impacted.
- Policy Exchange estimate that strikes could reduce inpatient activity for the month of July overall by 4.5% and outpatient activity by 8.7%, threatening the ability for NHS England to meet its target for 65% of patient ‘pathways’ to be completed within 18 weeks from next Spring.
- The report estimates that if NHS Trusts spent similar amounts paying consultants to cover rotas over strike days in July 2025 (as was the case between March-April 2023), the total cost in England alone could be £17.5 million on each strike day. That would total £87.46 million over the course of proposed strikes in July and more than £367.46 million over the course of 2025 overall.
The launch of this report was covered by:
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