Union to Ballot Senior Doctors Over Strike Action
The British Medical Association (BMA) has announced plans to ballot senior doctors in England regarding potential strike action as disputes over pay and career development intensify.
The union stated that simultaneous ballots for consultants and specialist, associate specialist, and speciality (SAS) doctors will take place from 11 May to 6 July. This move reflects escalating tensions between these groups of medical professionals and the government.
The decision follows what the BMA describes as insufficient progress in negotiations and an "inadequate" pay award.
Government Pay Award and Union Response
Last week, the government declared that doctors would receive a 3.5% pay increase, following a recommendation from the pay review body. The BMA responded by calling the pay award a "crushing blow" to doctors.
Statements from BMA Leadership
The BMA consultants’ committee co-chairs, Dr Shanu Datta and Dr Helen Neary, issued a statement addressing the ongoing situation:
"Over recent months, we have been in discussions with government but made clear that without action to reverse a persistent devaluing of the profession, consultants would be forced to seriously consider taking industrial action once again.
Unfortunately, as these discussions have gone on we have not seen anything like enough progress to give consultants any confidence that their concerns are being taken seriously.
Nor that the government is committed to keeping the most senior and expert doctors working here and ensuring their expertise is there for patients and the public for years to come."
Similarly, the BMA SAS committee chair, Dr Ujjwala Mohite, highlighted additional challenges faced by SAS doctors:
"Alongside pay erosion, SAS doctors face barriers to career development and lack of opportunities that recognise their skills and value they bring to hospitals and patients.
Despite making clear that we were no longer taking this lying down and that our members are prepared to act, we’ve seen far too little progress from the government in talks, and now ministers and the DDRB have wasted another opportunity to address pay erosion.
So, with our consultant colleagues, we are forced to take this fight to the next stage."
Government Response
The Department of Health and Social Care has been contacted for comment regarding the BMA's announcement and the ongoing dispute.
