Today consultants and SAS (specialist, associate specialist and specialty doctors) across the country will take part in industrial action over pay. This is the first time these two groups of doctors have gone on strike in Northern Ireland.

The 24-hour industrial action, which takes the form of Christmas Day cover*, begins at 7am on Thursday 25 June, to 6.59am on Friday 26 June, and was called after both branches of practice voted in favour of industrial action over 18 years of pay erosion**.

A delegation from both NICC and NISASC will go to Stormont today where they will meet with the chair and deputy chair of the Northern Ireland Assembly’s health committee to discuss the pay dispute.

Dr David Farren, chair of BMA’s Northern Ireland consultants committee (NICC), said: “No doctor wants to take strike action. However, there is a palpable sense of anger among all secondary care doctors at years of significant pay erosion in return for trying to deliver care in an overstretched health system where their jobs have become more complex and pressured. 

“Add in the now annual uncertainty over late pay awards while our colleagues elsewhere in the UK are paid on time, along with the more lucrative contracts offered in the Republic of Ireland, and you create a hugely demoralising effect on doctors working in Northern Ireland.”

Dr Leanne Davison, chair of BMA’s Northern Ireland SAS committee (NISASC), said: “Our health service can no longer run on the goodwill of frontline staff. Doctors are choosing to leave the health service or to reduce their contracted hours due to continued pay erosion and we can see the outworkings of this in services having to close due to staffing shortages.

“Those with the power to change this have so far chosen not to, which has forced hospital doctors into the unacceptable position of taking strike action in order to be heard. But it is not too late. We again call on government to step in and resolve this dispute with a credible offer to avert strike action without delay.”

Notes to editors

• *Christmas Day cover means that most routine and elective services will be cancelled but full emergency cover will remain in place. The action will last from 7am on Thursday 25 June to 6.59am on Friday 26 June.
• ** Read more about the Northern Ireland Consultants’ and SAS doctors’ pay campaign.
• BMA announced its planned dates for industrial action six weeks before the potential action so that plans could be put in place to manage patient lists and prioritise urgent patient care in the event of a successful ballot. We will prioritise patient safety and continue to provide emergency care, in-keeping with the level of services available on Christmas Day. There is a process agreed with employers for requesting derogations.
• Spokespeople from NICC and NISASC will be available for media interviews from 13:30pm to, Thursday 25 June, in Stormont Estate in front of Parliament Buildings. Broadcast crews should arrive in advance to allow set-up within the available window.
• All media requests should be directed through the BMA Northern Ireland communications team in advance where possible: [email protected]
• On-the-day coordination will be managed on site, please check in with the communications lead on arrival.
• Please note there will not be demonstrations at hospital sites on 25 June.
• Resident doctors in Northern Ireland will be on strike on Monday 29 June 2026. There will be demonstrations at the following sites 8.30am -10.30am: RVH – Grosvenor Road entrance; Altnagelvin Hospital; Craigavon Area Hospital.