Senior doctors in England will stage their first strike over pay in nearly 50 years on Thursday and Friday.
More than 20,000 consultants (86%) voted to strike over pay in the British Medical Association’s ballot, which had a 71% turnout.
The strike means the NHS will have to operate at a much-reduced level of service. Consultants will still work in areas of urgent and emergency care, such as A&E, intensive care, emergency surgery and maternity services.
Three consultants explain their position over the strike.
‘Wages have fallen significantly’
I never thought I would ever vote to strike. However, this government has incrementally, over the last 13 years, starved the NHS of money. We’re paid a good wage but it’s fallen significantly in the last 10 to 15 years – we’re just not valued and it’s reached a point where we just can’t stand there and take it.
I didn’t become a doctor for the money, I’ve never done private practice as a matter of principle, but I’m no longer willing to stand by and do nothing while this government try and effectively destroy the NHS via their refusal to appropriately value its staff. So with a heavy heart I voted to strike.
It’s quite insulting when you look at countries with similar levels of wealth and how they remunerate their medical staff. We’re just not comparable any more – it’s not surprising at all that junior doctors are heading [to countries such as Australia] in huge numbers.
I’ve worked in the NHS for more than 30 years now and I’ve seen remarkable change over the last 10 years: you see it in the services we offer, the way staff are treated, in reduction in pay.
The strike will have an effect on elective care; clinics and elective surgery will be cancelled, and it will add to the waiting list, but we’ve reached a point where the government has not listened when we’ve complained. What other choice do we have but to strike?
Consultant paediatrician in the north-west
‘Striking over pay sends the wrong signals’
I’m really disappointed in the result of the BMA’s ballot. I’m a consultant of 10 years – although there has been significant pay erosion, consultants are relatively well paid. Industrial action on the issue of pay sends all the wrong signals.
It’s the wrong time to be picking a fight over pay – we have to acknowledge there’s been significant pay erosion for consultants, so I do have a lot of sympathy there but equally we’re in a time where a lot of people are facing the challenging cost of living and inflation is high. It’s not a strong look for people earning 100k to be complaining about pay when many are really struggling.
By making the argument over pay, they’re allowing the government to give doctors a good kicking over being greedy and distracting from the main issues.
The issues causing the main upset are the systemic under-investment in the NHS, the lack of capacity, the endless and increasing demand, the stress, and frankly, the helplessness at no longer being in control of our destiny.
The BMA should concentrate on these issues affecting the NHS, not gift the government an excuse to bash senior doctors and divide and rule. Until then, I’m cancelling my BMA membership – I don’t feel my viewpoint is represented.
Consultant hepatologist and gastroenterologist in the south-east
‘We can’t see that things will get better’
I voted to strike not just for the years of pay erosion but for the years the medical profession has been undervalued. All the doctors that I know work additional unpaid hours, catch up with work on holidays and weekends. I don’t think the general public appreciate the out-of-hours work that most consultants undertake.
I’m fully committed to being a public sector worker. My dad was an NHS worker, too – working for the public sector is in my blood.
The strength of the vote to strike indicates how demoralised the consultant workforce is. Whilst I’m realistic as to what we can achieve with this government and the strikes, to not strike would have given the message that what is happening to our NHS and workforce is OK.
Our estates are in a dreadful state, just shocking. Morale is low – we had all the stresses of the pandemic and then we immediately went into catchup mode and we’re still there. It’s exhausting and we can’t see that things will get better.
I know the government will not want to be seen as capitulating to a highly paid group of professionals, but it’s still important to get the message out there: we’re not happy with our roles, the safety of the NHS, how we’re expected to work and how we’ve been treated during and post the pandemic.
Respiratory consultant in southern England
