Doctors in Northern Ireland have called on the health minister to make a credible pay offer to avoid strike action this month.
Consultants will strike on 25 June for 24 hours, and resident doctors (formerly junior) on 29 June, following ‘yes’ votes in ballots for industrial action.
BMA Northern Ireland consultants committee chair David Farren said: ‘This result sends a very clear message that concerns about pay erosion, workload and the future of the profession are widely shared across the workforce, across all grades of hospital doctor.
‘No one who voted in this ballot took this decision lightly; we know that from our conversations with members, but it’s a clear indication from the doctors who actually deliver the health service in Northern Ireland exactly how serious the situation has become.’
Steven Montgomery, BMA Northern Ireland resident doctors committee chair, said the result made it clear that doctors are standing up for safe, sustainable services and for being valued to stay working in Northern Ireland.
‘Younger doctors in particular are more mobile and the better pay and better working conditions on offer in other countries means we are losing doctors when we really need to do all we can to keep doctors working here.
‘The onus is now firmly on government to engage urgently and meaningfully and present a credible way forward to avert strike action.’
FARREN: Concerns about pay erosion shared across the profession
In the ballots on pay, 79 per cent of consultants and 92 per cent of resident doctors who took part voted in favour of strike action. Results of a ballot of specialist, associate specialist and specialty doctors will be known on Friday 12 June. Turnout was 58.8 per cent for consultants and 38 per cent for resident doctors.
The background of the dispute is multi-factorial. At the moment, doctors in Northern Ireland earn less than their counterparts in the rest of the UK. This is combined with the fact that health services in Northern Ireland are under severe and sustained pressure, with the worst waiting lists in the UK. Many doctors choose to leave to work elsewhere, retire early or reduce their working hours – meaning more pressure and a higher workload for those still in the service.
The industrial action for consultants will take the form of Christmas Day cover, which means routine and elective services will be cancelled but full emergency cover will remain.
The resident doctors will stage a full walk-out from 7am on Monday 29 June to 7am on Tuesday 30 June.
Joint forces
A third group of hospital doctors in Northern Ireland has voted to take strike action this month.
Nine out of 10 of those taking part in a ballot of specialist, associate specialist and specialty grade doctors backed strike action. They will now join consultants and resident doctors whose ballot results were announced on Monday.
Leanne Davison, chair of the BMA Northern Ireland specialist, associate specialist and specialty doctors committee, said the decision hadn’t been taken lightly. This result reflects the strength of feeling across our workforce about pay erosion.
‘We are an essential part of the HSC workforce, with experience comparable to our consultant and more senior resident doctor colleagues. Yet, like them, we have seen our pay steadily eroded since 2008. The persistent lack of recognition and limited opportunities for career progression within the health service have only compounded the sense that SAS doctors are undervalued.
She said the clear ‘yes’ vote showed a tipping point had been reached. ‘SAS doctors are prepared to stand up for the future of the medical workforce and the care we provide to patients. Strike action is still avoidable. It is now up to the Government to come forward with a meaningful and credible offer that makes real progress towards pay restoration.’
The strike action will take the form of Christmas Day cover – which means full emergency cover will remain in place, but much elective or planned work will be cancelled. Consultants and SAS doctors will walk out for 24 hours from 7am on 25 June, while a full strike of resident doctors will take place from 7am on Monday 29 June.