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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| NHS consultants could strike says British Medical Association | NHS consultants could strike says British Medical Association |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Consultants in England are ready to strike after a consultative ballot by the British Medical Association (BMA) showed support for industrial action. | Consultants in England are ready to strike after a consultative ballot by the British Medical Association (BMA) showed support for industrial action. |
| The union says consultants have seen pay cuts of 35% since 2008 once inflation is taken into account. | The union says consultants have seen pay cuts of 35% since 2008 once inflation is taken into account. |
| The BMA is now warning it will proceed to a formal ballot unless the government acts before 3 April. | The BMA is now warning it will proceed to a formal ballot unless the government acts before 3 April. |
| But formal pay talks are due to get under way on Tuesday with other health unions after their strikes were paused. | But formal pay talks are due to get under way on Tuesday with other health unions after their strikes were paused. |
| Walkouts by ambulance workers and nurses have been put on hold after the two sides agreed to re-enter talks. | Walkouts by ambulance workers and nurses have been put on hold after the two sides agreed to re-enter talks. |
| Initially the Royal College of Nursing was the only union involved in those talks. | Initially the Royal College of Nursing was the only union involved in those talks. |
| But they have now been joined by the unions representing 13 other health unions for everyone from physios and midwives to ambulance staff and porters and cleaners. | But they have now been joined by the unions representing 13 other health unions for everyone from physios and midwives to ambulance staff and porters and cleaners. |
| There are likely to be three days of talks this week with ministers and NHS bosses. | There are likely to be three days of talks this week with ministers and NHS bosses. |
| Doctors want up to £262 an hour to cover strike | Doctors want up to £262 an hour to cover strike |
| Meeting to avert junior doctors' strike fails | Meeting to avert junior doctors' strike fails |
| But while progress is being made with these unions, the dispute with doctors is escalating. | But while progress is being made with these unions, the dispute with doctors is escalating. |
| A 72-hour strike by junior doctors is planned next week in their dispute over pay. | A 72-hour strike by junior doctors is planned next week in their dispute over pay. |
| They will walk out of both emergency and planned care, meaning consultants are being asked to provide cover in A&E units. | They will walk out of both emergency and planned care, meaning consultants are being asked to provide cover in A&E units. |
| It threatens to have a major disruption to routine treatments, such as knee and hip operations. | It threatens to have a major disruption to routine treatments, such as knee and hip operations. |
| The consultative ballot does not provide a legal mandate for strike action. | The consultative ballot does not provide a legal mandate for strike action. |
| But the results do suggest the BMA is likely to get agreement from its members to strike if it does hold a formal ballot. | But the results do suggest the BMA is likely to get agreement from its members to strike if it does hold a formal ballot. |
| Some 86% of consultants voted in favour of industrial action on a turnout of 61%, which is well over the 50% threshold required. | Some 86% of consultants voted in favour of industrial action on a turnout of 61%, which is well over the 50% threshold required. |
| Dr Vishal Sharma, chairman of the BMA consultants committee, said: "In my 25 years in the NHS, I have never seen consultants more demoralised, frustrated and in despair over this government's refusal to support the NHS workforce and the patients they serve." | Dr Vishal Sharma, chairman of the BMA consultants committee, said: "In my 25 years in the NHS, I have never seen consultants more demoralised, frustrated and in despair over this government's refusal to support the NHS workforce and the patients they serve." |
| Alongside pay, consultants are also objecting to the pension rules which mean they face high tax bills because they have reached the cap covering how much can be paid into a pension pot. | Alongside pay, consultants are also objecting to the pension rules which mean they face high tax bills because they have reached the cap covering how much can be paid into a pension pot. |
| On average, consultants earned £122,000 last year. | On average, consultants earned £122,000 last year. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Doctors | Doctors |
| NHS | NHS |
| British Medical Association (BMA) | British Medical Association (BMA) |
| Strike action | Strike action |