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Health & Lifestyle · 6 Intermediate · October 27, 2026

English Doctors Plan Two-Day Strike in November

English Doctors Plan Two-Day Strike in November
Photo: Mikhail Nilov via Pexels

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Vocabulary

consultants /kənˈsʌltənts/ noun
highly trained senior doctors with specialized medical knowledge
The strike involves only consultants, not junior or trainee doctors.
routine /ruːˈtiːn/ adjective
regular, ordinary, or standard procedures performed normally
During the strike, hospitals will cancel routine appointments and elective surgery.
compensation /ˌkɒmpənˈseɪʃən/ noun
payment or money given in exchange for work or as reward
The doctors want fair compensation that reflects their experience and qualifications.
inflation /ɪnˈfleɪʃən/ noun
an increase in prices of goods and services over time, reducing money's value
When accounting for inflation, the doctors' real pay has fallen despite nominal increases.
ballot /ˈbælət/ noun
a formal vote where people choose by marking a paper or pressing a button
A recent ballot showed that 76 percent of participating consultants supported the strike.
settlement /ˈsetəlmənt/ noun
an agreement or resolution that ends a disagreement or dispute
A settlement with trainee doctors ended years of strikes in the medical profession.

Article

Senior doctors in England will stop work for two days starting on November 25th. These consultants, who are the most experienced physicians in hospitals, will provide only emergency care during this time. The strike affects routine and planned medical services significantly. The doctors are protesting over compensation and working conditions after negotiations with the government failed to reach an agreement.

Why Are Doctors Striking?

Consultants received a 3.5 percent pay increase this year, but their union argues that actual earnings have declined by roughly one quarter over the past seventeen years when inflation is considered. Beyond pay, the doctors want a shorter working week, reduced from forty to thirty-five hours, and better compensation for work outside normal business hours. They also seek changes to their pension system, requesting more control over when they can retire. These demands reflect deep frustration within the profession.

What Happens Now?

The government calls the strike irresponsible and worrying for an already pressured health system. However, seventy-six percent of striking doctors voted for this action in a recent ballot. This represents the latest chapter in a long dispute involving various medical professionals. Residents and other hospital doctors previously struck for over three years before reaching a settlement earlier this year.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why do you think senior doctors might feel that a 3.5 percent pay raise is insufficient, even though it sounds reasonable?
  2. The government says the strike is irresponsible, but the doctors say they had no choice. Who do you think bears more responsibility for this situation, and why?
  3. How might a two-day strike affect ordinary people who live in England? Think about different types of patients.
  4. Would you support this strike if you were a consultant doctor? What additional information would help you decide?
  5. Some doctors are not union members and did not vote, yet the strike affects all patients. Is this fair? Explain your thinking.

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