Consultant doctors in England to strike next month

Consultant doctors in England are to stage a two-day strike next month in a dispute over pay and working conditions.

The walkout will begin on 25 November at 06:59 GMT, with consultants providing emergency cover only.

It comes after 76% of consultants who took part in the British Medical Association ballot voted in favour of strike action earlier this year with turnout was just over 50%.

Talks had taken place with the government over the past month.

Consultants – the most senior doctors in the NHS – were given a 3.5% pay increase this year.

But the BMA argues pay has fallen by a quarter over the past 17 years, once inflation is taken into account.

In a joint statement, BMA consultants committee co-chairs Dr Helen Neary and Dr Shanu Datta, said they had tried to negotiate with the government in “good faith”, but “time-and-time again ministers have kicked the can down the road”.

“Unfortunately, that road has now run out, and we have been forced to announce strikes.

“Consultants take their responsibilities incredibly seriously, and striking does not come naturally, but we are hearing loud and clear from the profession that they have had enough.”

Basic pay for consultants starts at £113,500 a year with the most experienced paid £150,500.

But they can earn thousands of pounds in extra payments which means average earnings are more than £150,000 a year.

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government had been in “constructive discussions” with the BMA so it was “disappointing” the strike dates had been announced.

She said taking strike action would be “irresponsible” and “place the health service under even greater pressure”.

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