Consultant doctors in England have voted in favour of industrial action over the next 12 months, demanding higher pay and a shorter working week. The decision, announced by the British Medical Association (BMA), raises fears of renewed disruption in the NHS, just a week after resident doctors ended their long-running dispute.
The ballot, conducted by the BMA, saw 76% of participating consultants ready to strike. However, only 18,069 of the 35,067 BMA-member consultants voted, with a turnout of 51.5%—just above the 50% legal threshold required for industrial action. Of those, 13,695 (75.8%) supported strike action, while 4,369 (24.2%) opposed it.
Consultants seek multi-year pay deal
Consultants, who earn an average of £152,000 annually, argue that their salaries have fallen by 25% in real terms since 2008-09. They want ministers to agree a multi-year pay deal to address this decline. Basic pay for consultants ranges from £113,565 to £150,569, excluding overtime or merit awards of up to £42,000 for clinical excellence.
Beyond pay, consultants are also seeking higher compensation for out-of-hours work, a reduction in the working week from 40 to 37.5 hours, and more time for innovative patient care approaches.
Government response
Health Secretary James Murray criticised the vote, stating there is "no justification" for strikes by people in the top 2% of earners. He noted that consultants have received a 28.5% increase in basic starting pay over the last four years. "After a 28.5% increase in basic starting pay over the last four years and with the average consultant now earning over £152,000 a year, there is simply no justification for strikes that will cause disruption to patients and the NHS," Murray said. He urged the BMA and consultants to engage in dialogue rather than pursue industrial action.
Ministers have ruled out revisiting the 3.5% pay rise for consultants for 2026/27. Sources close to Murray highlighted that fewer than two in five BMA-member consultants backed industrial action, representing 35,067 of England's 66,759 consultants.
BMA and NHS reaction
Dr Helen Neary and Dr Shanu Datta, co-chairs of the BMA's consultants committee, said: "This is a clear message from consultants in England that they are not willing to tolerate the continued attack on their pay and professional value and that, if necessary, they are willing to act." They added that no strikes need to occur if the government addresses these issues, but the mandate is ready to be used if it does not.
The NHS Alliance, representing NHS trusts, expressed unease. Chief Executive Ciarán Devane said: "Health leaders will be disappointed that senior doctors have voted in favour of potential industrial action and now have a mandate to strike over the next 12 months. Should they go ahead, any walkouts by consultants would once again impact the delivery of vital services and patient care." He urged senior doctors to engage in meaningful dialogue to resolve concerns without affecting patient care.
The consultants' legal mandate runs for a year, longer than the six-month periods resident doctors had, due to the government's recent Employment Rights Act. Consultants have not yet announced strike dates, offering a potential window for talks with the government.
