Consultant Doctors Vote for Strikes Amid Pay and Workweek Dispute
Consultant doctors in England have voted in favor of strikes over the next 12 months, seeking higher pay and a reduced working week. This decision raises concerns about potential renewed disruption within the NHS, following the recent resolution of a dispute involving resident doctors.
Consultants, whose average salary is approximately £152,000, are demanding a multi-year pay agreement to address what they describe as a 25% decline in the real value of their salaries since 2008-09.
This announcement comes just one week after resident doctors in England ended their prolonged dispute over pay and job conditions. Despite the vote, consultants have not yet set dates for any strike action, which leaves open the possibility that negotiations with the government could prevent industrial action.
Health Secretary James Murray criticized the consultants' decision, stating there is "no justification" for those already among the top 2% of UK earners to strike for additional pay.
Ballot Results and Consultant Perspectives
The British Medical Association (BMA) conducted the ballot, in which 76% of participating consultants expressed readiness to engage in industrial action. However, turnout was 51.5%, with 18,069 out of 35,067 BMA consultant members voting—just above the 50% threshold required by industrial relations law for strike action to proceed.
Of those who voted, 13,695 (75.8%) answered "yes" to participating in strike action, while 4,369 (24.2%) voted "no."
"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," said Dr Helen Neary and Dr Shanu Datta, co-chairs of the BMA’s consultants committee.
The co-chairs emphasized that ministers and the incoming prime minister would need to address these concerns to prevent strikes and the potential loss of senior doctors from the NHS.
"No strikes need to take place if the government addresses these issues, but we now have a mandate that consultants are prepared to use if it does not act," they stated.
Government Response and Pay Details
James Murray reiterated that consultants are among the highest-paid public sector employees, noting a 28.5% increase in basic starting pay over the past four years. He highlighted that the average consultant salary exceeds £152,000 annually and argued against strikes that would disrupt patient care and NHS services.
"I urge the BMA and all consultants not to rush into another cycle of unnecessary and disruptive industrial action and instead work with the government to improve the lives of senior doctors," Murray said.
Consultants’ pay scales range from £113,565 to £150,569, excluding additional payments such as overtime or merit awards for clinical excellence, which can add up to £42,000. The government has indicated it will not reconsider the 3.5% pay rise scheduled for 2026/27.
Sources close to Murray noted that fewer than 40% of all consultants in England, who number 66,759, are members of the BMA, and among those, less than two in five supported industrial action.
Additional Consultant Demands and Legal Mandate
Beyond seeking a multi-year pay deal, consultants are advocating for a reduction in their working week from 40 to 37.5 hours. They also wish to allocate less time to direct clinical work and more to developing innovative patient care approaches.
The legal mandate for consultants’ industrial action extends for one year, contrasting with the six-month periods that resident doctors had during their strikes. This change is a result of amendments in the government’s Employment Rights Act.
Reactions from NHS Leadership
The NHS Alliance, representing NHS trusts in England, expressed concern over the vote.
"Health leaders will be disappointed that senior doctors have voted in favour of potential industrial action and now have a mandate to strike over the next 12 months. Should they go ahead, any walkouts by consultants would once again impact the delivery of vital services and patient care," said Ciarán Devane, the organisation’s chief executive.
He added that while NHS leaders understand the consultants’ concerns, they urge senior doctors to engage in constructive dialogue to resolve issues without compromising patient care.
