Two groups of senior NHS doctors could strike this summer after their pleas for an inflation-busting pay rise were rejected.
British Medical Association (BMA) officials have announced that thousands of consultants and specialist, associate specialist and specialty (SAS) doctors in England will be balloted on industrial action in the coming months.
The move could see them join resident doctors—previously known as junior doctors—on the picket lines and add to the chorus of chaos.
Many doctors were offered a 4 per cent pay uplift in May following a review of public sector pay.
The increase, recommended by an independent pay review body, was above the rate of inflation, which jumped to 3.5 per cent in April, the highest since January 2024.
But union leaders today labelled the uplift an ‘insult to senior doctors’ and warned they they would work with resident doctors to maximise the impact of any action.
BMA consultants committee co-chairs Dr Helen Neary and Dr Shanu Datta said: ‘Last month’s offer was an insult to senior doctors and undoes so much of the progress made last year.
‘Without restoring consultants’ value we will continue to drive our most experienced clinical leaders and academics away—in many cases to better pay and conditions overseas—when patients and the public need them most.
‘We’ve been clear to the Government that we’re ready to get around the table and to secure a better outcome for doctors, patients and the public.
‘But with no response, we have no choice but to prepare for the possibility of further action.
They added: ‘Our resident colleagues have already launched their ballot, to which we offer them our fully-fledged support.
‘We ask the Government whether it can really risk having several groups of doctors on picket lines together later this year.’
BMA SAS committee chairwoman Dr Ujjwala Mohite also said: ‘SAS doctors are the backbone and unsung heroes of the NHS, yet this year’s pay “award” once again completely disregards the value we offer to patients and the health service.
‘Even with the uplift, SAS pay will be down by almost a quarter in real terms compared to 2008.
‘We are certainly not working a quarter less than we were 16 years ago.’
The ballot, which opens on July 21 and closes on September 1, is indicative—meaning it won’t be used to launch industrial action.
There are around 60,000 consultants and 15,600 SAS doctors working in England.
The resident doctor ballot, meanwhile, closes on July 7 and if successful could see medics strike for up to six months in England.
Earlier this month health secretary Wes Streeting said walkouts should be the last resort, with warnings they would be ‘immensely disruptive for patient care’.
He pointed out that the average 5.4 per cent award for resident doctors is the highest in the public sector.
They claim wages have fallen 23 per cent in real terms since 2008.
But a recent YouGov poll found that 48 per cent of Britons oppose resident doctors going on strike, while 39 per cent support them taking action.
YouGov said this ‘marks a shift in opinion’ of public support of striking junior doctors last summer, when the majority of Britons – 52 per cent – said they supported the action.
The Department of Health and Social Care has been approached for comment.
