// BBC HEALTH NEWS — SALUTE
Hospital doctors to strike as pay dispute continues
Hospital doctors in Northern Ireland are to strike in November over pay.
It comes after the Royal College of Nursing announced that it is also balloting its members on potential strike action.
The doctors will stage two separate 24-hour strikes on 20 and 23 November.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has warned doctors are prepared to escalate the strike action if progress is not made in addressing the pay issue, which they say has seen doctors' pay drop from upwards of 26% over the past 18 years due to below inflation pay awards.
The Department of Health (DoH) has been approached for comment.
Resident doctors will hold a full 24-hour strike starting at 07:00 BST on 20 November until 07:00 the following morning.
Consultants and specialist, associate specialist and speciality grade (SAS) doctors will also take 24-hour action from 07:00 on 23 November until 07:00 the following morning.
They will provide what is known as Christmas Day cover, which means that most routine and elective services will be cancelled but full emergency cover will remain in place.
Resident doctors are fully qualified medical practitioners who are completing postgraduate clinical training in a hospital or general practice under the supervision of a senior doctor.
SAS doctors are specialist doctors employed by health trusts.