BMA Northern Ireland has announced that secondary care doctors are planning two days of strike action at the end of June if they secure a YES vote in their ballot for industrial action over pay.

If consultants and SAS (specialist, associate specialist and specialty) doctors vote in favour strike action, they will hold 24 hours of action starting at 7am on Thursday 25 June until 7am Friday 26 June. The action will be in the form of Christmas Day cover whereby there will be a reduced number of senior doctors working on the wards and in clinics with elective activity cancelled, however emergency care will be maintained. 

Should resident doctors vote yes, they will hold a full walk-out for 24 hours, starting at 7am on Monday 29 June and ending at 7am on Tuesday 30 June 2026.

Speaking about the proposed strike dates, BMA’s Northern Ireland consultants committee chair, Dr David Farren, said: “We have notified health trusts and the Department of Health of these dates well ahead of the required seven days’ timeframe under trade union law. So they have enough notice to prepare accordingly. 

“We accept this will cause disruption for patients and our health service colleagues. However, doctors have to take a stand against below inflation pay offers and the impact this is having on the workforce, offers that are not even guaranteed to be paid this year. It is insulting and demoralising.”

Dr Leanne Davison, chair of BMA’s Northern Ireland SAS committee, said: “We would not be holding a ballot for industrial action if we felt that there was any other course of action that would achieve our aims. 

“Let me be clear: we are willing to talk to the government to avoid strike action. However, if we do not see any progress towards achieving our asks on pay, we will escalate our action and there will be longer strikes.”

Dr Steven Montgomery, chair of BMA’s Northern Ireland resident doctors committee, said: “We need to address pay erosion now as our health service cannot afford to lose younger doctors to other countries where there is better pay and better working conditions. The government has the power to do this by making an immediate above inflation pay offer and by setting out and agreed, credible, pathway to full pay restoration.”