Senior doctors in England will walk out for two days next month in an ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions, the British Medical Association (BMA) has confirmed.
Consultants are set to stage a 48-hour strike on November 25 and 26, with the union citing concerns about the "value and sustainability" of their role. The BMA accuses the Government of ignoring worries about consultants' "wellbeing and workload", adding that the action could be called off if Health Secretary Yvette Cooper agrees to formal negotiations.
Emergency Cover During Walkout
During the strike, hospitals will operate with emergency cover, similar to staffing levels seen on Christmas Day.
Dr Helen Neary and Dr Shanu Datta, co-chairs of the BMA's consultants committee, said: "As the most senior and skilled doctors in the NHS, consultants not only provide frontline, life-saving care, but they are central to running and designing services, training and supervising the future workforce, and ensuring patients get the best treatment possible."
They added: "Solving the pressures facing the health service will be impossible without valuing and retaining these doctors. Yet the Government is failing to recognise this, ignoring our concerns around consultants' wellbeing and workload, and pushing them further away from the NHS. And as the much-lauded progress on waiting lists in England stalls, the Government is also telling consultants they deserve another pay cut."
Dispute Since 2023
Consultants last went on strike in England in 2023 but have been in dispute with the Government since last year. The BMA says progress has been "inadequate" since members voted in favour of a mandate for industrial action in July.
Dr Neary and Dr Datta said: "Since we entered into dispute over 18 months ago we have engaged in good faith with the Government, proposing practical solutions, but time and time again ministers have kicked the can down the road. Unfortunately, that road has now run out and we have been forced to announce strikes."
They continued: "Not only is our pay still a quarter down in real terms on what it was 17 years ago, having fallen more steeply than the rest of the economy, but we are also not being given time to dedicate our all to the NHS and patients, with quality and improvement being traded for the treadmill of target-chasing, driving colleagues to burnout through excessive workloads."
Government Response
The BMA claims consultants have experienced 25 per cent real-terms pay cuts over the last 17 years. The union says it has been discussing ways to reduce burnout and retain senior medics with the Government.
Ms Cooper said: "The Government is working with staff across the NHS to prepare for winter, improve care for patients and make our health service better for the whole workforce."
She added: "NHS England and the department have been in constructive discussions with the BMA, so it is very disappointing to see the BMA committee choosing this response rather than continuing with that dialogue. With colleagues across the NHS, I am determined to support staff and patients through the tough winter period. I hope the BMA will stay united with us in that effort, and not take irresponsible action that would place our health service under even greater pressure at this crucial time."
The Government has four weeks to prevent the action, with the BMA saying it looks forward to hearing from the Secretary of State on areas where both sides can work together to end the dispute.
