Consultant doctors in England have voted in favour of strikes over the next 12 months in pursuit of higher pay and a shorter working week, but held off announcing dates for stoppages, offering hope that talks could avert disruption. The decision came a week after resident doctors in England ended their long-running dispute after accepting the government’s most recent offer.
Consultants, who earn an average of £152,000 a year, want ministers to agree a multi-year pay deal to address what they say is a 25% fall in the value of their salaries since 2008-09. In a ballot run by the British Medical Association, 76% of those who voted said they were prepared to take industrial action. However, only 18,069 of the 35,067 BMA members took part – a turnout of 51.5%, just above the 50% threshold required by law. Of those, 13,695 (75.8%) voted yes and 4,369 (24.2%) no.
“Consultant doctors in England voted for strikes, with 76% in favour in a BMA ballot.”
Dr Helen Neary and Dr Shanu Datta, co-chairs of the BMA’s consultants committee, said: “This is a clear message from consultants in England that they are not willing to tolerate the continued attack on their pay and professional value and that, if necessary, they are willing to act.” They added that no strikes need take place if the government addresses the issues, but the BMA now has a mandate to use if it does not.
The health secretary, James Murray, criticised the vote. “Consultants are some of the highest-paid public sector staff and among the top 2% earners in the country,” he said. “After a 28.5% increase in basic starting pay over the last four years and with the average consultant now earning over £152,000 a year, there is simply no justification for strikes that will cause disruption to patients and the NHS.” He urged the BMA and all consultants not to rush into another cycle of unnecessary action.
The vote prompts fears of renewed disruption in the NHS, but the decision to delay announcing strike dates may give ministers time to negotiate a settlement before any walkouts occur.
