Consultants and specialist doctors in Northern Ireland participated in industrial action on Thursday, marking the first strike by these professional groups in the region. The 24-hour walkout began at 07:00 BST and concluded at 07:00 on Friday, with no picket line demonstrations reported. According to the Department of Health, 90% of routine and elective services proceeded as scheduled despite the action, while full emergency coverage remained available throughout the period.
Various health trusts reported service disruptions as a result of the strike. The Southern Trust rescheduled 143 outpatient appointments and 11 surgeries. The Northern Trust postponed five planned day procedures, 62 outpatient appointments, and 64 radiology appointments. The Belfast Trust cancelled or postponed 569 outpatient appointments and 114 day cases. The Western Trust reported 321 appointments affected, while the South Eastern Health Trust closed Lagan Valley Hospital’s urgent care centre due to the industrial action. Health authorities indicated that affected patients would be contacted to arrange alternative appointment dates.
The dispute centers on pay levels and retention of medical professionals. The BMA balloted members over a four-week period after rejecting a recommended 3.5% pay uplift from an independent pay body. Results showed 92% of resident doctors, 79% of consultants, and 90% of SAS doctors voted in favor of strike action, citing over 18 years of pay erosion. Doctor representatives highlighted concerns that pay scales in Northern Ireland lag behind those in England, Scotland, and Wales, contributing to staff departures and increased workload for remaining physicians.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt expressed disappointment with the strike action but stated commitment to implementing this year’s pay award contingent on budget availability. He noted that exceeding the 3.5% recommendation would create significant repercussions across the broader public sector workforce. BMA leadership characterized the minister’s position as inadequate, arguing that matching pay uplifts without addressing baseline pay differences does not constitute genuine parity. Representatives from the BMA scheduled a meeting with assembly health committee leadership to discuss the dispute. An additional 24-hour walkout was planned for later in the month.
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