England Consultant Doctors Announce Two-Day Strike Over Pay, Pensions | Sahara Reporters

The decision follows a BMA ballot in which 76 per cent of participating consultants voted in favour of strike action.

Consultant doctors across England will begin a two-day strike on November 25 over a dispute with the government about pay and pensions, with emergency medical services remaining available during the industrial action.

The British Medical Association (BMA) announced the strike after discussions with the government failed to resolve the dispute, according to a report by the BBC. The walkout will begin at 6:59 a.m. GMT, with consultants providing emergency cover only.

The decision follows a BMA ballot in which 76 per cent of participating consultants voted in favour of strike action. Turnout was slightly above the 50 per cent threshold required for the ballot to be valid.

Dr Helen Neary and Dr Shanu Datta, co-chairs of the BMA consultants committee, said the union had tried to reach an agreement with the government through negotiations but had failed to secure a satisfactory resolution.

In a joint statement, the committee leaders accused ministers of repeatedly delaying action on the issues raised by consultants. They said the failure to reach an agreement had left the union with no option but to proceed with the strike.

“Consultants take their responsibilities incredibly seriously, and striking does not come naturally,” the committee co-chairs said, adding that doctors had made their dissatisfaction clear.

The dispute centres on pay and pensions, with the BMA arguing that consultants’ earnings have fallen by about 25 per cent over the past 17 years when inflation is taken into account. Consultants received a 3.5 per cent pay increase this year, but the union maintains that the rise has not addressed the long-term decline in the value of their earnings.

Basic annual salaries for NHS consultants range from £113,500 for those at the beginning of the pay scale to £150,500 for the most experienced doctors.

Consultants are among the most senior doctors in the National Health Service (NHS), providing specialist medical care and overseeing treatment for patients with complex conditions. The planned walkout could disrupt routine services, although consultants are expected to continue providing emergency cover.

The strike is scheduled to begin on November 25, with further negotiations potentially offering an opportunity to resolve the dispute before the industrial action starts.