Consultant doctors in England have announced a two-day strike starting on 25 November, primarily affecting routine and elective hospital services while maintaining emergency care. The British Medical Association (BMA) members voted in favour of strike action in July, citing a 25% real-terms pay decline over 17 years despite a 3.5% pay rise this year. The BMA also seeks a reduction in the standard working week from 40 to 35 hours, higher pay for out-of-hours work, and pension flexibility.
The strike follows unsuccessful negotiations with the government, which argues that only about one in five NHS consultants in England support the strike, as many are not BMA members. Health Secretary Yvette Cooper described the strike as "irresponsible" and said it would increase pressure on the health service. This action coincides with ongoing doctor strikes in Northern Ireland and follows previous consultant strikes in England in 2023.
Read the full story: BBC UK News.
Source: BBC UK News. Aggregated summary, not independent reporting.