Senior NHS consultants in England have announced a two-day strike scheduled for November 25 and 26, marking the latest escalation in an ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions. The British Medical Association (BMA) confirmed the industrial action, citing concerns over what it describes as a 25 percent real-terms pay cut over the last 17 years and unsustainable workloads.
Consultants are demanding an immediate pay increase of £16,000 and a reduction of the standard full-time working week from 40 to 35 hours, alongside calls for more protected time for teaching, service improvement, and better pay for out-of-hours duties. The union also wants changes to pension arrangements, including greater flexibility over when pensions can be taken.
The strike follows a ballot in which 76 percent of voting BMA members supported industrial action, though turnout represented just over half of the eligible consultants, amounting to roughly one in five NHS consultants in England. Union leaders say the decision to strike was driven by growing frustration among senior doctors facing high workloads, burnout, and what they deem inadequate government pay offers.
Government officials and health authorities have criticized the strike plans. The Department of Health and Social Care warns that reducing consultants’ working hours would increase waiting times for patients and could cost taxpayers between £2 billion and £3 billion. A government spokesperson called the strike "irresponsible," particularly as it comes ahead of the demanding winter period for the NHS.
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper expressed disappointment, urging the BMA to continue negotiations rather than pursue industrial action. Downing Street echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of cooperation to support staff and patients during the upcoming winter. The prime minister’s office urged the union to accept the government’s recent pay proposals and to avoid actions that could further pressure the NHS.
Opponents of the strike point to the significant salary increases consultants have received in recent years. Consultants currently earn an average of over £150,000, reflecting a 28.5 percent rise in basic pay over four years, amounting to approximately £25,000. Some critics have also highlighted the relatively generous pension scheme for consultants, suggesting that calls for further pay rises and reduced hours overlook the broader public sector context and the NHS’s financial constraints.
The BMA, however, maintains that despite recent pay rises, consultants’ purchasing power has declined and that many senior doctors supplement their NHS income with private sector work due to pressures and pay concerns. The union insists that strikes could be avoided if the government agrees to formal, funded negotiations.
This industrial action marks one of the first to take place under new legislation extending strike mandates from six to twelve months, allowing unions to stage repeated walkouts without fresh ballots during this period. Shadow health secretary Damian Hinds criticized the government’s handling of the dispute, accusing Labour ministers of yielding to union demands without securing reforms to working practices, thereby prolonging industrial unrest.
Hospitals are preparing to maintain emergency cover during the strike, operating under staffing arrangements similar to those used during Christmas Day, but officials warn that routine services and elective procedures may face significant disruption.