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Nearly 90% of consultant doctors in England have voted for industrial action in the recent British Medical Association ballot (BMA), which had a turnout of 71%.
The BMA’s consultants committee is now calling on the government to present a credible pay offer for consultants in England, and to commit to meaningful reform of the broken pay review process, in order to avoid strikes by senior doctors after over 24,000 consultants voted to strike.
The industrial action is expected to take place on 20 and 21 July. it will take the form of Christmas Day cover. This means that most routine and elective services will be cancelled but full emergency cover will remain in place.
The BMA says that repeated government interference with the so-called independent review body, the DDRB has meant that the take-home pay for consultants in England has fallen by 35% since 2008/2009.
Consultant doctors are not worth a third less than we were 15 years ago
Dr Vishal Sharma, BMA consultants committee chair, said: “We know consultants don’t take the decision around industrial action lightly, but this vote shows how furious they are at being repeatedly devalued by government. Consultants are not worth a third less than we were 15 years ago and have had enough.
“Consultants don’t want to have to take industrial action, but have been left with no option in the face of a government that continues to cut our pay year after year. However, it is not too late to avert strike action and the government simply needs come back to us with a credible offer that we can put to our members.”
They added that they will prioritise patient safety and continue to provide emergency care, in-keeping with the level of services available on Christmas Day, but said that the loss of this expertise would be devastating for services, patients and the future of the NHS.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said that it was disappointing the BMA consultants have voted to take strike action.
They added: “Consultants received a 4.5% pay uplift last financial year, increasing average earnings to around £128,000, and they will benefit from generous changes to pension taxation announced at budget.
“Strikes are hugely disruptive for patients and put pressure on other NHS staff. We’ve been engaging with the BMA Consultants Committee on their concerns already and stand ready to open talks again – we urge them to come to the negotiating table rather than proceeding with their proposed strike dates. We urge the BMA to carefully consider the likely impact of any action on patients.”