In a historic move, senior doctors in England have overwhelmingly voted in favor of a two-day strike over pay, marking the first time in nearly 50 years that they will take such action.
The strike aims to exert pressure on the government to reverse the significant cuts to their salaries that have been imposed since 2008.
The British Medical Association's ballot saw a turnout of 71%, with more than 24,000 consultants participating. Of those, 86% voted in favor of the strike, surpassing the legal requirement of 50% by a significant margin. The strike, scheduled to begin at 7 am on 20 July, is expected to cause major disruptions to services, as numerous appointments have already been rescheduled since the start of NHS strikes in December.
The consultants committee of the BMA encouraged its members to support the strike after negotiations with ministers regarding pay restitution, given the 35% decline in real-terms pay since 2008-09, broke down.
The timing of the vote adds pressure on the government, as it prepares to release the long-awaited NHS workforce plan, outlining its strategy to address the ongoing crisis in the healthcare system, including addressing chronic staff shortages.
Meanwhile, nursing union leaders also attended discussions with the prime minister, but their members did not vote in sufficient numbers for further strike action. The Royal College of Nursing intends to continue campaigning for fair pay and explore alternative options for action. They may consider re-balloting their members in the future.
Last week, the BMA announced that thousands of junior doctors, with up to eight years of experience in hospitals or three years in general practice, would strike across England for five days, marking the longest strike action in NHS history. The junior doctors' strike will take place from 7 am on 13 July to 7 am on 18 July.
For the first time since 2012, consultants will join the strike. With over 58,000 consultants in the NHS, approximately 33,915 were eligible to vote in the ballot.
Dr. Vishal Sharma, Chair of the BMA consultants committee, emphasized that the decision to strike was not taken lightly, highlighting the consultants' frustration at being undervalued by the government. He expressed that the strikes could be avoided if the government presented a credible offer to reverse the pay decline and reform the pay review process to address historical erosion.
The BMA did not disclose the government's offer to consultants but described it as a "real terms pay cut." Junior doctors have already rejected a 5% pay rise. The Department of Health and Social Care is currently considering a proposal from the review body on doctors' and dentists' remuneration for a 6% pay rise, along with an additional £1,000 for junior doctors.
The six-week period leading up to the strike will allow consultants and their colleagues to develop plans to manage patient lists and prioritize urgent care. The strike poses significant challenges for the NHS, as it follows a five-day strike by junior doctors and will result in further disruption for thousands of patients.
The Department of Health and Social Care expressed disappointment at the strike action, emphasizing the value placed on the work of NHS consultants and urging the BMA to return to the negotiating table to address their concerns without resorting to strikes. The department highlighted the disruptive nature of strikes and their impact on patients and other NHS staff.