Consultants and specialist doctors in Northern Ireland participated in a 24-hour work stoppage beginning Thursday at 07:00 BST and concluding Friday at 07:00, marking the first strike action by these professional groups in the region. The industrial action proceeded without picket line demonstrations, and health authorities reported that emergency services maintained full coverage throughout the period.
Health officials indicated that approximately 90% of routine and elective services proceeded as scheduled, though some appointments and procedures were rescheduled across multiple trusts. The Southern Trust rescheduled 143 outpatient appointments and 11 surgeries, while the Belfast Trust postponed 569 outpatient appointments and 114 day cases. The Northern Trust rescheduled five planned procedures, 62 outpatient appointments, and 64 radiology appointments. The Western Trust postponed or cancelled 321 appointments across inpatient, outpatient, and day case categories. Lagan Valley Hospital’s urgent care centre closed due to the action.
The dispute centers on compensation, with the BMA having rejected a 3.5% pay increase recommended by an independent pay review body. Recent balloting showed 92% of resident doctors, 79% of consultants, and 90% of SAS doctors voted in favor of strike action. BMA representatives cited over 18 years of pay erosion and highlighted concerns about physician retention and burnout within the healthcare system. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt stated he remained committed to implementing the pay award but was unable to proceed without an agreed budget, noting that exceeding the 3.5% recommendation would have consequences for other public sector workers.
BMA leadership characterized the current offer as insufficient, noting that doctors in Northern Ireland receive lower compensation than counterparts in England, Scotland, and Wales. A second 24-hour walkout was scheduled for later in the month. BMA representatives indicated they would meet with assembly health committee officials to continue discussing the pay dispute.
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