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Result due on ballot for Scottish hospital doctors' strike action Mixed outcome on hospital doctors' strike ballot
(about 11 hours later)
Hospital doctors in Scotland will announce the results of a ballot for strike action later. Scotland's hospital consultants have voted against taking strike action, while their junior doctor colleagues have voted in favour.
It follows previous industrial action in June in protest at changes to doctors' pension arrangements. The results of a three-week long ballot were published by BMA Scotland.
Planned reforms would mean doctors working longer and contributing up to 14.5% of their pay for their pension. The association's ruling council will now study the figures before making a decision on the "next steps".
The result of the ballot could lead to strikes on 12 December and 8 January and 17 January, although emergency cover would still be provided. The ballot was called over UK government plans to make changes to the National Health Service's staff pension arrangements.
The BMA held four separate ballots covering different branches of practice in Scotland, including
  • consultant doctors
  • junior doctors;
  • staff associate, specialist and specialty doctors
  • and public health doctors.
Doctors were asked two questions - whether they were willing to take part in industrial action short of strike, and whether they were willing to take part in a strike
Only the BMA's UK council can sanction industrial action and it will meet later to discuss the matter.
Planned government reforms would mean doctors working longer and contributing up to 14.5% of their pay for their pension.
Any strikes would be scheduled to take place on 12 December and 8 January and 17 January, although emergency cover would still be provided.
Holyrood powers
Members of the British Medical Association (BMA) all over the UK took part in a day of industrial action at the start of the summer in protest at changes to their pension schemes, during which doctors turned up for work but only treated emergency cases.Members of the British Medical Association (BMA) all over the UK took part in a day of industrial action at the start of the summer in protest at changes to their pension schemes, during which doctors turned up for work but only treated emergency cases.
However, if further industrial action is supported by a vote, it would go further and would be by Scottish doctors only. However, if further industrial action takes place it would be by Scottish doctors only.
The BMA insists the Scottish government has the power to introduce different pension arrangements and resolve the dispute, but ministers at Holyrood believe if they did so they would receive a reduced block grant from Westminster. The BMA insisted the Scottish government had the power to introduce different pension arrangements and resolve the dispute, but ministers at Holyrood believed if they did so they would receive a reduced block grant from Westminster.
If doctors do vote yes to strike action emergency cases would still be treated but doctors on other shifts would man picket lines outside hospitals on the first planned day of action on 12 December. Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil previously said there was no justification for industrial action and called on unions "to find a way forward on pensions issues".
Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil previously said href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-20210994" >there was no justification for industrial action and called on unions "to find a way forward on pensions issues". Here is a breakdown of the results, issued by BMA Scotland.
Dr Nikki Thompson, deputy chair of the BMA's Scottish consultants' committee, has accused the Scottish government of "talking up" its opposition to UK pension changes, but failing to deliver on its words.
Industrial action in June saw about 60% of GP surgeries in Scotland affected and 3,200 outpatient appointments and 450 inpatient and day cases cancelled.