On Wednesday 18th September the doctors who formerly were known as “junior” doctors mark their official transition to the title “resident” doctors. The BMA, the representative body for doctors in the UK, from today will refer to this cohort of doctors as resident doctors and leave the former misleading title behind. The Government has also agreed to follow this terminology.
  
Resident doctors are fully qualified doctors who are either currently in postgraduate training or gaining experience as locally employed doctors, to become the consultants, GPs or specialists of tomorrow. They form the largest single group in the UK’s medical workforce, with many having more than a decade of experience as highly qualified professionals. After many years of calls for the term “junior” to be retired as both misleading and demeaning to the skills of doctors, the BMA voted in 2023 to move to a new term. 

In February 2024 a BMA survey showed the change to “resident” was supported by 91% of junior/resident doctors, and the Government agreed that the term was preferable during pay talks over the summer. From Wednesday, the word “junior” will be replaced by “resident” in all BMA and Government communications, with the NHS, media and healthcare institutions all encouraged to follow suit. “Resident doctor” also brings the UK closer to international terminology, the title being used in the US, Canada, Spain, Australia and many others. 
 
Resident Doctors Committee (RDC) co-chairs Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi said: 
“There was never anything “junior” about the work we do. The title “junior doctor” misled patients into thinking that they were being looked after by underqualified or apprentice doctors. In fact we are expert clinicians who are responsible for a huge bulk of the medical care given to patients across the NHS every day – performing operations, leading medical teams, saving lives. 

“Patients deserve to know they are being taken care of by the right staff. Doctors deserve to know they are valued and their skills are respected. The title “resident doctor” better reflects their expertise and how crucial they are to the functioning of the health service. 

“Doctors in the NHS have spent decades feeling increasingly undervalued and take for granted. Part of restoring that value will be through deals that restore our pay, and we saw the start of that journey on Monday. But the language we use matters as well as pay, and this name change is a simple and straightforward way of marking a new era where resident doctors no longer accept less than they are worth. 

“It is good to see the Government agrees with us and will call us resident doctors in its communications – we look forward to the media and wider healthcare world updating its usage accordingly from today.”  
 

Notes to editors

The former Junior Doctors Committee (JDC) is now the Resident Doctors Committee (RDC). 

The vote to remove “junior doctor” as term was voted for by the wider BMA with the passing of a motion at ARM (annual representative meeting) in July 2023. 
 
The vote to replace it with “resident doctor” took place at the ARM in June 2024. 

The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.