Senior NHS doctors in England support strikes

Top doctors in England have backed further strike action over pay and pensions.

In a poll, 76% of consultants who are members of the British Medical Association (BMA) said they were willing to take industrial action, meaning they now have the power to strike within the next 12 months.

It comes after resident doctors, commonly known as junior doctors. Received a salary agreement with the government To end a three-year strike.

In the past few years, patients have seen hundreds of thousands of appointments canceled due to industrial action.

The BMA says there should be no strike action if the government resolves issues including “stopping wage erosion”.

Out of 35,067 eligible members, 18,069 (51.53%) voted and 13,695 voted yes.

BMA Advisory Committee Chairs Dr Helen Neri and Dr Shanu Datta said: “This is a clear message from consultants in the UK that they are unwilling to tolerate continued attacks on their pay and professional values ​​and are prepared to take action if necessary.”

Health and Social Care Secretary James Murray said the strike was “unprovoked” and the consultants were among the highest paid public sector workers and among the top 2 per cent of earners in the country.

“After a 28.5% increase in starting pay over the past four years and the average consultant now earning more than £152,000 a year, there is simply no reason for strike action to cause disruption to patients and the NHS.

“Consultants are an invaluable part of the NHS workforce, and we have been working closely with them to improve the scheme of work and update their contracts. Strikes will only hinder this important work.

“I urge the BMA and all advisers not to rush into another round of unnecessary and disruptive industrial action.”

According to the BMA, average pay is still 26% lower than it was 17 years ago, and the final pay point for a consultant in England is £16,000 less than a colleague in Wales.

Consultants in England last went out between July and October 2023, which included two strikes coordinated with resident doctors.

Meanwhile, the vote of specialist, associate specialist and specialty (SAS) doctors has missed the legal exit threshold.

Some 2,738 SAS doctors voted, with a 42.99 per cent turnout.

However, the BMA said 90% of those polled supported strikes.