Consultants and specialist doctors in Northern Ireland participated in industrial action on Thursday, marking the first strike by these groups in the region. The 24-hour walkout began at 07:00 BST and concluded at 07:00 the following day, with no picket line demonstrations reported. While some routine and elective services were cancelled, the Department of Health indicated that 90% of scheduled services continued. Emergency care remained fully operational throughout the period.
Various health trusts reported service disruptions across the region. 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 postponed 569 outpatient appointments and 114 day cases and reported expecting significant disruption. The Western Trust cancelled or postponed 321 appointments. The South Eastern Health Trust closed Lagan Valley Hospital’s urgent care centre due to the strike.
The industrial action centered on compensation disputes. Doctors’ representatives rejected a recommended 3.5% pay uplift from an independent pay body. Balloting 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. BMA officials argued that Northern Ireland doctors earn less than counterparts in England, Scotland, and Wales, and raised concerns about staff retention and burnout affecting service delivery.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt expressed disappointment with the strike while stating commitment to the recommended pay award, though he cited budget constraints as preventing implementation. He stated the 3.5% represented the extent of available resources and that exceeding this would have implications for other public sector workers. The BMA planned to meet with assembly health committee leadership to discuss the dispute, and a separate 24-hour walkout was scheduled for later in the month.
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