Consultants in England have voted in favour of strike action amid ongoing disputes over pay, according to the British Medical Association (BMA). In a recent ballot, 76% of consultants who participated expressed their willingness to strike, providing a mandate for industrial action over the coming year.

The ballot, conducted between June 18 and June 26, saw 18,069 consultants out of approximately 35,067 eligible members participate, representing a turnout of just over 51%. Of those who voted, nearly 14,000 supported walkouts as a response to what they describe as sustained attacks on their pay and professional value.

Dr Helen Neary and Dr Shanu Datta, co-chairs of the BMA consultants committee, emphasized that the vote signals a clear message from senior doctors unwilling to accept the current conditions. They stressed the critical role consultants play as clinical leaders in hospitals, warning that insufficient recognition and support could lead to a loss of experienced staff at a time when the National Health Service is already facing significant challenges.

The BMA cautioned that strike action could have serious implications for patient care and an already stretched NHS, raising concerns echoed by the public. However, the union urged the government to engage constructively in negotiations to resolve the dispute.

The UK Health Secretary, James Murray, criticized the planned industrial action, describing it as unjustified given that consultants are among the highest-paid public sector professionals. He called on union leaders for dialogue instead of strikes, highlighting the potential disruption such actions could cause.

In parallel to the consultants’ ballot, a separate strike authorization poll was held among specialty, associate specialist, and specialty (SAS) doctors. While 90% of those who voted supported strike action, the turnout of 42.99% fell short of the legal threshold required to sanction industrial action.

This development comes shortly after resident doctors in England agreed to a government offer to resolve their own pay and contractual disputes. Their agreement includes an average 6.6% pay increase to be fully implemented by April 2027, standard contract terms, and an increase of 4,500 specialty training places over three years. The contrast in outcomes between resident doctors and consultants underscores ongoing tensions within the NHS workforce over remuneration and working conditions.