Senior doctors in England will stage a two-day strike next month in a dispute over pay and pensions, the British Medical Association (BMA) has announced. The walkout is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, November 25 at 6.59am, with consultants providing emergency cover only.
The strike follows a BMA ballot in which 76% of participating consultants voted in favour of industrial action. Talks had taken place with the government over the past month.
Strike dates and cover levels
The industrial action is planned for 25 and 26 November, with Christmas Day levels of cover provided. In a statement, the BMA said: "Our intended industrial action will take the form of 'Christmas Day' cover as in previous industrial action."
"Consultants provide safe emergency and immediately life-saving care on Christmas day and out of hours 365 days a year, so no patients will be harmed but the Government will hear our message loud and clear," the statement continued.
"If the Government chooses to act, by formally negotiating with us with a mandate that can lead to a credible offer across our range of demands, then industrial action can and will be stood down."
Pay and pension concerns
Consultants, the most senior doctors in the NHS, were given a 3.5% pay increase this year. Basic pay for consultants starts at £113,500, with the most experienced paid £150,500. However, they can earn thousands of pounds in extra payments, which means average earnings are more than £150,000 a year.
The BMA said consultants do not want to strike, but after 18 months without formal negotiations, they cannot wait any longer.
Government response
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government had been in "constructive discussions" with the BMA, so it was "disappointing" that the strike dates had been announced. She said taking strike action would be "irresponsible" and "place the health service under even greater pressure".
In previous strike actions by resident doctors, patients have been warned that procedures could be cancelled, but urgent appointments should continue as normal. Patients will be contacted if their planned procedures cannot go ahead. NHS England has said in previous strike actions that hospitals should only cancel non-urgent care, such as hip and knee operations, in exceptional circumstances.
