The Scottish Government narrowly averted strikes in 2023, when 97% of resident doctors voted to take strike action, by promising us credible progress to pay restoration in each financial year (including 25/26 and 26/27). Despite months of negotiations looking at multiple solutions to resident doctor pay erosion, the Scottish Government have refused to make an offer that would meet the terms of our 2023 deal.

Breaking this deal leaves us with no choice but to ballot. We need to show that the Government can no longer break promises to us, and that there are consequences to their actions. Without a successful ballot, we will have the lowest uplift of all UK nations this year, and the 2 years combined would take 34 years to achieve pay restoration. This is not credible.

Government have also failed to meet their timeline for negotiating and implementing a new contract with much needed improvements to pay and conditions, and a pay review mechanism to prevent further pay erosion in the future.

The unemployment crisis is a TOP priority for BMA Scotland. However, foundation and specialty recruitment is a UK-wide process, and so the levers to fix this are largely held by the UK Government in Westminster. Whilst this dispute remains about the Scottish Government breaking the 2023 deal on pay + new contract, we continue to pressure both the UK + Scottish Government to fund more training posts.

However, we will lose leverage on all issues if this ballot fails.

Balloting over our 2023 deal doesn’t mean jobs aren’t a priority for BMA Scotland. The resident doctor unemployment crisis is a key concern – but we don’t see the issue of pay and conditions, and jobs, as competing issues. These go hand-in-hand. It is vital that we continue to make progress in improving the pay and conditions for resident doctors in Scotland, so that we aren’t just creating jobs, we are creating high-quality, well-paying jobs.

We refuse to let the government divide our membership by trying to play pay & conditions, and jobs, off of each other. If we aren’t able to hold government to account on the 2023 deal, how can they credibly expect to deliver on any future commitments surrounding jobs?

The ballot for resident doctors in Scotland is opening on 14th November 2025, and closing at 12 noon on 19th December 2025. All eligible members will be sent a ballot paper by post and case notes will be added to all records confirming when a ballot paper is sent and to which address.

Re-send requests: We are asking members to wait until 19th November before requesting a replacement to allow time for the ballot papers to arrive. For any resend requests email the details to doctorspay@bma.org.uk making it clear this is a resend request. There will not be an online request form for this ballot. Final re-send requests need to be received by 4th December, any requests after this date a repost will not be possible.

New joiners: New members have until the 4th December to join to be included in the ballot.

You do not need to email doctorspay@bma.org.uk for the ballot papers to be sent to new joiners or anyone updating their grade/POW, the team are running files regularly to send out ballots to new joiners/anyone newly eligible.

Must be a member of BMA

Must have valid postal address

All resident doctor members who have a Scottish NHS Employer PoW recorded on their membership record

Primary grade must be:

In the Resident doctors BoP OR

Trainee in public health without honorary contract OR

Trainee in public health with honorary contract OR

Academic trainee – NHS employed

Locum residents employed by an agency (if no NHS employer)

Resident doctors living in Scotland with a POW in England/Wales/NI

Resident doctors living in Scotland with a POW that is not an NHS employer

Resident doctors with no POW record

Resident doctors with armed forces as a secondary grade.

Members with invalid postal address.

Yes, if you are a BMA member and a Resident Doctor in Scotland. That includes FYs, STs (including GPSTs), Locally Employed Doctors (clinical fellows, FY3s, trust grades, etc.) and RD locum doctors. The last date to join the BMA to vote in the ballot will likely be shortly after the ballot opens but JOIN NOW to ensure your voice is heard.

**The only Resident Doctors who cannot vote are those directly employed by universities**.

3 key criteria:

Overall Yes Vote

50% of members return their ballot

40% of ALL members vote Yes, including those who do not vote

This means that turnout is the main challenge – an unreturned ballot is more dangerous than a No vote!