Senior doctors prepared to strike amid fresh government talks
Doctors’ union issues strike warning to government
- A new survey by the British Medical Association (BMA) indicates that senior doctors in England, including consultants and specialty and associate specialist (SAS) doctors, are prepared to take industrial action over ongoing pay disputes.
- The survey found that 67 per cent of consultants and 82 per cent of SAS doctors who responded would be willing to strike.
- Representatives from the BMA are scheduled to meet with Health Secretary Wes Streeting next week to discuss the dispute.
- The BMA highlights that consultants have experienced a 26 per cent real-terms pay cut and SAS doctors a 24 per cent cut since 2008/09, despite a recent 4 per cent pay uplift.
- The Department of Health and Social Care disputes the BMA's stance, stating that most consultants and SAS doctors are not prepared to strike, noting consultants' pay has increased by 22 per cent over the past three years.