The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced it will ballot consultants and specialist, associate specialist and specialty (SAS) doctors in England over potential strike action, escalating a pay dispute that could see all three main groups of hospital doctors coordinating industrial action.
The BMA warned that if ballots succeed, the government risks facing strikes from all doctors working in secondary care during the same period. Consultants are demanding higher pay and shorter hours, while SAS doctors seek increased basic pay, improved overtime rates, more annual leave, and better career opportunities.
Resident doctors (formerly junior doctors) are already due to begin a six-day strike on 7 April, following a breakdown in talks with the government. The BMA said the decision to ballot consultants and SAS doctors was prompted by the government's offer of a 3.5% pay rise for 2026-27, which the union described as inadequate.
The Department of Health and Social Care responded by noting that consultants earn an average of £147,000 per year and have received above-inflation pay rises, adding that these are not grounds for strike action. Ballots will run from 11 May to 6 July, leaving time for negotiations.
There are approximately 66,000 consultants and 16,000 SAS doctors in the NHS in England, with the BMA representing around 36,000 and 7,000 respectively. Coordinated action could cause significant disruption to NHS services.
