Consultants and specialist doctors in Northern Ireland staged a 24-hour industrial action beginning Thursday morning, marking the first strike by these groups in the region. The action ran from 07:00 BST on Thursday through 07:00 on Friday, with no picket line demonstrations. According to the Department of Health, 90% of routine and elective services continued operating despite the walkout. Full emergency coverage remained available throughout, and patients were instructed to attend scheduled appointments unless notified otherwise.
Across health trusts, varying numbers of appointments and procedures were rescheduled. The Southern Trust reported 143 outpatient appointments and 11 surgeries postponed. The Northern Trust indicated five planned day procedures, 62 outpatient appointments and 64 radiology appointments were moved. The Belfast Trust postponed 569 outpatient appointments and 114 day cases, while the Western Trust cancelled or postponed 321 appointments including inpatients and day cases. The South Eastern Health Trust closed Lagan Valley Hospital’s urgent care centre due to the action.
The British Medical Association conducted a four-week ballot after members rejected a recommended 3.5% pay uplift from an independent pay body. Results showed 92% of resident doctors, 79% of consultants, and 90% of specialist associate specialist doctors voted in favor of strike action. Leaders cited over 18 years of pay erosion as justification. BMA representatives were scheduled to meet with assembly health committee leadership to discuss the dispute.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt expressed disappointment with the strike but stated he remained unable to exceed the 3.5% recommendation without an agreed budget. He noted that exceeding the recommended uplift would create repercussions across the public sector including nursing, teaching, and police services. BMA leadership countered that the current offer did not constitute pay parity with doctors in England, Scotland, and Wales, and emphasized staffing shortages and doctor departures as ongoing concerns affecting service delivery.
A second 24-hour walkout was scheduled for later in the month. BMA officials stated that continued pay erosion and failed negotiations had forced the unprecedented action, with leadership describing the situation as regrettable but necessary.
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