UK consultant doctors plan two-day strike over pay, working conditions

Consultant doctors in England are set to embark on a two-day strike next month, citing concerns over pay and working conditions. The walkout is scheduled to commence on November 25 at 6:59 am GMT, with consultants reserving their services for emergency care only. This move will significantly affect routine and elective procedures, as well as planned healthcare services.

The dispute follows a vote in favor of strike action by British Medical Association (BMA) members in July. Consultants, the most senior doctors in the National Health Service (NHS), were offered a 3.5 percent pay increase this year. However, the BMA argues that the real value of pay has decreased by a quarter over the past 17 years, when considering inflation.

In addition to pay, the union is seeking a reduction in the standard working week to 35 hours, higher pay for out-of-hours work, and more flexible pension options. In a joint statement, BMA consultants committee co-chairs Dr Helen Neary and Dr Shanu Datta expressed disappointment with the government's response to their negotiations. They claim that ministers have repeatedly delayed addressing their concerns, leading to the decision to stage the strikes.

Consultants' average earnings exceed £150,000 annually, with basic pay starting at £113,500 and reaching £150,500 for the most experienced. Many also receive additional payments and awards. In the strike ballot, 76 percent of participating consultants voted in favor of industrial action, with slightly more than half of eligible BMA members taking part.

The government, however, maintains that only around one in five consultants employed by the NHS in England participated in the ballot, noting that nearly half are not BMA members. Health Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the government's willingness to engage in "constructive discussions" with the BMA but expressed disappointment at the announced strike dates. She cautioned that such action would be "irresponsible" and "place the health service under even greater pressure."

The estimated cost of meeting all BMA demands to the government ranges between £2 billion and £3 billion annually. This announcement comes amid ongoing strike action by consultants and other doctors in Northern Ireland during November. The long-standing dispute involving resident doctors in England concluded earlier this year after more than three years of intermittent strike action.