England’s most senior hospital doctors have announced plans to stage a two-day walkout on 25 and 26 November in an ongoing dispute with the government regarding compensation and working conditions. The consultants, who earn an average of £152,000 annually inclusive of overtime and merit awards, will provide only emergency coverage during the strike period, similar to operations on Christmas Day.
The British Medical Association reported that the decision to strike came after 18 months of unsuccessful negotiations with the government. Key points of contention include the consultants’ assertion that the real-terms value of their salaries has declined by 25% since 2009-10, and their request for a 10% reduction in working hours. The BMA indicated that a recently proposed pay increase of 2.4% for the following year fell significantly below inflation and represented a breaking point in negotiations. Consultants had voted in July to authorize industrial action, and informal discussions since that time have yielded no substantial progress.
NHS leadership has expressed concern about the timing and impact of the planned action. The NHS Alliance and NHS Employers representatives warned that the strikes would disrupt non-urgent outpatient appointments, elective surgeries, and follow-up care during a period when hospitals are preparing for winter pressures. They noted that the health service is currently managing a backlog of more than 6 million patients awaiting more than 7 million treatments. Health Secretary Yvette Cooper urged consultants to reconsider, characterizing the action as irresponsible during a challenging season for the NHS.
Government officials countered that the consultants’ demands, including the proposed five-hour weekly reduction, would impose substantial costs to taxpayers, citing an estimate exceeding £2 billion. They emphasized that consultant salaries have increased by £25,000 on average over the previous four years. This dispute marks the return of consultant-level industrial action, following a precedent in 2023 when consultants conducted nine days of strikes across four separate actions.
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