Consultant doctors in England plan strike for next month

Consultant doctors in England will begin a two‑day strike on 25 November at 06:59 GMT, limiting their work to emergency care only. The walkout, which will last until 26 November, is expected to disrupt routine and elective services across the NHS.

The strike follows a year‑long dispute over pay and working conditions. In July, British Medical Association (BMA) members voted in favour of action after talks with the government stalled. Consultants received a 3.5 % pay rise this year, but the BMA says real‑term earnings have fallen by about a quarter over the past 17 years. The union is also pressing for a reduction of the standard week from 40 to 35 hours, higher out‑of‑hours pay and greater flexibility in pension withdrawals.

Seventy‑six percent of consultants who voted supported the strike, though only just over half of eligible BMA members took part. The government estimates that this represents roughly one in five NHS consultants in England, as many are not BMA members. Average consultant earnings top £150,000 a year, with basic salaries ranging from £113,500 to £150,500, plus additional awards. Health Secretary Yvette Cooper called the strike “irresponsible”, saying it would add pressure to an already strained health service, but maintained that “constructive discussions” were ongoing. The move mirrors similar doctor actions in Northern Ireland this month and follows a brief strike by English consultants in 2023 after a three‑year resident‑doctor dispute ended earlier this year.

If the strike proceeds as planned, patients can expect emergency departments to remain open while most planned surgeries and outpatient appointments are cancelled. Hospitals will need to re‑allocate staff and resources, potentially lengthening waiting times and increasing pressure on already busy emergency units. The BMA says the action is a last resort after ministers repeatedly delayed talks, and the outcome may shape future negotiations on pay, hours and pension reforms for senior doctors across the NHS.