The BMA today launches ballots of senior doctors in England, with consultants and SAS doctors being asked if they’re willing to take industrial action.

The ballots will run from today (11 May) for eight weeks, closing on 6 July.

Should the ballots be successful, the Government risks having all doctors working in secondary care in England having a mandate to take industrial action at the same time.

Both consultants and SAS doctors are in dispute with the Government over pay, as well as wider changes they say are needed to recognise and keep senior doctors in the workforce and enable them to do the key quality and safety work for patients and services.

The BMA’s consultants committee believes consultants need to have more protected time to focus on innovation, teaching future generations of clinicians and improving services for patients, a reduction in standard hours and better recognition for the most demanding out of hours work to reduce burnout and improve retention.

The BMA’s SAS committee is calling for improvements to career progression and opportunities for SAS doctors so they can offer their full potential to patients and the health service. They are also pushing to reform how SAS doctors are recognised and compensated for their time, particularly for extensive anti-social working hours, and to improve annual leave entitlements to ensure SAS doctors are not disadvantaged compared to other groups.

Both groups have seen their pay fall by around a quarter since 2008/09 and are calling for action to reverse this, after March’s pay award from the Government of 3.5% went nowhere near doing so.

Both committees say talks with the Government have been far too slow to progress.

BMA consultants committee co-chairs Dr Shanu Datta and Dr Helen Neary said:

“When you or your loved ones go to hospital, a consultant is the most senior and skilled doctor in the department, in overall charge of your care. They are also responsible for improving services and designing new ones, as well as training the doctors of the future.

“Yet the failure to value this expertise, and support and protect consultants from the demands of the job, means we risk losing them when patients need them most. Left unaddressed, the impact of this is early retirement, quiet quitting, and consultants leaving the profession in the UK, resulting in doctor shortages and even worse wait times for care.

“BMA consultants and SAS doctors in England are standing together and demanding better. Better pay that ensures a career in the NHS remains attractive and sustainable. Better conditions to ensure that we can care for our patients safely. Better recognition for the key quality and safety work that consultants need to undertake for our patients and the NHS.

“Industrial action is a last resort, but in the face of a Government that seems intent on making the role of a consultant even more demanding with no associated recognition, we are left with no choice but to show ministers that we are prepared to stand up for one another, our professionalism and our patients.”

BMA SAS committee chair Dr Ujjwala Mohite said:

“SAS doctors are the bedrock of so many hospitals, providing lifesaving and vital care to people day-in day-out. Yet they continue to go unrecognised.

“Like our consultant and resident doctor colleagues, we too have seen our pay fall. Alongside this SAS doctors experience barriers to career development and lack of opportunities, that mean they unable to offer their true potential to patients.

“That is a huge untapped resource at a time when waiting lists are still at near-record highs.

“We hope that industrial action won’t be necessary, but SAS doctors must be prepared to stand together to show their value to a Government that won’t recognise it.”​

Ends.

Notes to editors

The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.

Find more about the consultants’ campaign in England here.

Find more about the SAS doctors’ campaign in England here.

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