Senior NHS Doctors Set to Strike Over Pay in November

Thousands of NHS consultants in England will strike on November 25 and 26. The British Medical Association called the action in a dispute over pay and working conditions.

• 2 days of action are planned, starting November 25.
• 2023 saw consultants' last walkouts, running from July to October.
• 2 of those 2023 strikes were coordinated with resident doctors.
• 18 months: how long the BMA says the current dispute has run.

Why it matters: Consultants lead hospital care, run services and train younger doctors. A walkout by them affects treatment, supervision and planning at once.

• The BMA says consultant pay is down a quarter in real terms over 17 years.
• The union says progress on waiting lists in England has stalled.

How 6 sources split on this story

What’s next: The government has four weeks to prevent the strikes. Ministers' response is not described in available coverage.

• The BMA says it wants talks with the health secretary to end the dispute.
• What pay offer, if any, is the government preparing for consultants?
• Will resident doctors coordinate action with consultants again?
• How many planned procedures would be postponed during the walkout?