#doctors-strike

#doctors-strike

Unions representing French doctors have called for 'unprecedented' strike action starting on January 5th, in opposition to the draft 2026 social security bill. Seven doctors' unions issued a unified call for strike action on Wednesday, urging doctors to 'prepare for an unprecedented strike starting on Monday, January 5th.' The call for strikes specifically affects médecins libéraux, meaning self-employed doctors, such as GPs and specialists with their own practices, as well as medical students and interns (doctors in training).

NHS England said many more patients were coming forward for treatment and a doctors' strike in July left 50,000 appointments cancelled. The Royal College of Surgeons said the system was coming under severe strain and called for more money for new operating theatres in the autumn budget. "Crumbling hospital buildings are leading surgeons to have to compete for space, directly contributing to delays and leaving patients waiting for the care they need," said the organisation's vice president Prof Frank Smith.

Polling from More in Common indicates that support for the doctors' strikes has dropped significantly, going from -10% to -15% in just two weeks, reflecting public sentiment turning against the doctors' demands.

Kemi Badenoch has proposed working with the Labour government to address the militant doctors' strike but demands a reversal of Keir Starmer's key election pledge regarding pay rises.

"We're ready to take on the fight, and the only way to do that is to block the system," Anna Boctor, president of the Jeunes Médecins union, told France Info.