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 to protest over pay and working conditions. The walkout is scheduled to commence on November 25 at 6:59 am GMT, with consultants only providing emergency care. This decision follows a vote in favor of strike action by the British Medical Association (BMA) members in July, following a series of discussions with the government.

Consultants, the highest-ranking doctors in the National Health Service (NHS), received a 3.5% pay increase this year. However, the BMA claims that real wage growth has declined by a quarter over the past 17 years, adjusted for inflation. The union is also pushing for a reduction in the standard working week from 40 to 35 hours, higher pay for out-of-hours work, and changes to pension schemes, including more flexibility in when they can be taken.

The BMA's co-chairs of the consultants' committee, Dr Helen Neary and Dr Shanu Datta, expressed their frustration with the government's repeated delays in addressing their grievances. Despite the medical professionals' dedication, they argue that the situation has become untenable. According to the BBC, consultants' average earnings surpass £150,000 per year, with basic pay starting at £113,500 and topping out at £150,500 for the most experienced practitioners.

The government estimates that accommodating the BMA's demands would entail an annual cost ranging from £2bn to £3bn.