Consultants and specialist doctors in Northern Ireland staged industrial action over compensation, marking the first strike by these professional groups in the region. The action occurred over a 24-hour period beginning Thursday morning and concluding Friday morning, with no picket line demonstrations reported.
According to health authorities, while some services were affected, approximately 90% of routine and elective appointments proceeded as scheduled. Emergency coverage remained fully operational throughout the period. Various trusts reported service disruptions, with the Belfast Trust experiencing the most significant impact, postponing 569 outpatient appointments and 114 day cases. The Southern Trust rescheduled 143 outpatient appointments and 11 surgeries, while the Northern Trust adjusted five planned day procedures, 62 outpatient appointments, and 64 radiology appointments. The Western Trust postponed or cancelled 321 appointments including inpatient, outpatient, and day case services. The South Eastern Health Trust closed Lagan Valley Hospital’s urgent care centre due to the action.
The strike centered on long-standing pay concerns. Medical representatives indicated that consultants and doctors had experienced more than 18 years of pay erosion. An independent pay body had recommended a 3.5% uplift, which union leadership rejected. Subsequent ballots showed strong support for industrial action: 92% of resident doctors, 79% of consultants, and 90% of SAS doctors voted in favor. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt stated he could not exceed the recommended 3.5% increase without an approved budget, citing potential repercussions for other public sector employees including nurses, teachers, and police officers.
BMA representatives plan to meet with assembly health committee leadership to discuss the dispute. A second 24-hour walkout was scheduled for later in the week. Union officials characterized the situation as untenable, noting that pay disparities with other UK regions were driving doctors to leave the health service or reduce their contracted hours, thereby straining remaining staff and compromising service delivery.
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