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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Decision due on doctors' industrial action vote | Decision due on doctors' industrial action vote |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News | By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News |
| Doctors are due to announce whether they will be taking industrial action over changes to their pensions. | Doctors are due to announce whether they will be taking industrial action over changes to their pensions. |
| The British Medical Association has balloted over 100,000 medics across the UK on the government's plans which it claims are unfair. | The British Medical Association has balloted over 100,000 medics across the UK on the government's plans which it claims are unfair. |
| Ministers argue the move from a final salary scheme to career average is needed to make it affordable. | |
| The union has ruled out a full-out strike if action is taken, but said non-urgent care could be stopped. | The union has ruled out a full-out strike if action is taken, but said non-urgent care could be stopped. |
| That would mean elective operations such as knee and hip replacements being cancelled. | That would mean elective operations such as knee and hip replacements being cancelled. |
| GP practices would remain open, but routine appointments would not take place. | GP practices would remain open, but routine appointments would not take place. |
| But tests for conditions such as cancer would still take place, while A&E units and maternity services would run as normal. | But tests for conditions such as cancer would still take place, while A&E units and maternity services would run as normal. |
| If action was taken it would be the first time since 1975 that doctors have taken such a step. | If action was taken it would be the first time since 1975 that doctors have taken such a step. |
| Unions representing a host of health professionals, including paramedics, admin staff and porters, have already taken part in strikes over pension changes. | Unions representing a host of health professionals, including paramedics, admin staff and porters, have already taken part in strikes over pension changes. |
| But the Royal College of Nursing, one of them most influential voices inside the NHS alongside the BMA, has decided not to. | But the Royal College of Nursing, one of them most influential voices inside the NHS alongside the BMA, has decided not to. |
| 'Reluctantly' | 'Reluctantly' |
| Under the plans, which apply to England and Wales but could be introduced elsewhere in the UK, the age at which doctors retire would rise from 65 to 68 by 2015. | Under the plans, which apply to England and Wales but could be introduced elsewhere in the UK, the age at which doctors retire would rise from 65 to 68 by 2015. |
| The highest earners could also face having to pay 14.5% of their salaries in contributions. | The highest earners could also face having to pay 14.5% of their salaries in contributions. |
| The BMA has argued that this is nearly twice the amount top paid civil servants have to contribute. | The BMA has argued that this is nearly twice the amount top paid civil servants have to contribute. |
| The union has also pointed out that the current scheme - which was only agreed as recently as 2008 - brings in a £2bn a year surplus. | The union has also pointed out that the current scheme - which was only agreed as recently as 2008 - brings in a £2bn a year surplus. |
| The union has said that it had taken the step to ballot members "reluctantly". | The union has said that it had taken the step to ballot members "reluctantly". |
| But it said it had been forced into the measure because of the way the government had "mishandled the situation by failing to enter into genuine negotiation on the further changes now being imposed on top of the 2008 reforms". | But it said it had been forced into the measure because of the way the government had "mishandled the situation by failing to enter into genuine negotiation on the further changes now being imposed on top of the 2008 reforms". |
| But the Department of Health said the changes were "proportionate and reasonable". | But the Department of Health said the changes were "proportionate and reasonable". |
| It said at the average consultant retiring at the moment was receiving a pension of over £48,000 a year and a tax-free lump sum of more than £140,000. | It said at the average consultant retiring at the moment was receiving a pension of over £48,000 a year and a tax-free lump sum of more than £140,000. |
| After the changes, a 40-year-old consultant would have to work an extra two-and-a-half years for the same amount. | After the changes, a 40-year-old consultant would have to work an extra two-and-a-half years for the same amount. |
| The results of the ballot is expected to be announced on Wednesday morning. | The results of the ballot is expected to be announced on Wednesday morning. |
| Once they are known the BMA leadership will meet to discuss the next steps. | Once they are known the BMA leadership will meet to discuss the next steps. |