Hospital doctors in Northern Ireland have announced plans to strike during November as a continuation of ongoing pay negotiations. The British Medical Association has scheduled two separate 24-hour strike periods: resident doctors will take action starting at 07:00 BST on 20 November through 07:00 the following morning, while consultants and specialist, associate specialist and speciality grade doctors will conduct strikes from 07:00 on 23 November through 07:00 the following morning.
During these strike periods, Christmas Day cover arrangements will apply, meaning most routine and elective services will be suspended while emergency services remain operational. The BMA has indicated that further escalation of industrial action may occur if substantial progress is not achieved on compensation matters. This represents a continuation of labor action, following similar strikes that took place in June.
The doctors’ representatives cite a significant erosion of compensation relative to inflation over an extended period. The BMA states that doctors’ pay has declined from upwards of 26% over the past 18 years due to consistently below-inflation pay awards. Dr Clodagh Corrigan, chair of the BMA’s Northern Ireland SAS committee, stated that a credible pay offer making meaningful progress toward full pay restoration is necessary to prevent additional industrial action. She noted uncertainty regarding whether the minimum annual pay uplift for 2026/27, which has been provided to doctors elsewhere in the UK, would be implemented in Northern Ireland.
The strike action is occurring alongside a separate ballot by the Royal College of Nursing on potential industrial action over similar compensation concerns. Earlier this year, the NHS pay review body recommended a 3.3% pay increase for staff across all pay bands. While nursing and healthcare workers in England and Wales have received their awards, Northern Ireland nursing staff have not yet done so. The Department of Health indicated that the health minister supports implementing the 2026/27 award and restoring pay parity with NHS England at the earliest opportunity.
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