// BBC HEALTH NEWS — SALUTE
Consultant doctors in England to strike next month
Consultant doctors in England are to stage a two-day strike next month in a dispute over pay and working conditions.
The walkout will begin on 25 November at 06:59 GMT, with consultants staffing emergency care only.
This is known as Christmas Day cover and is likely to have a major impact on most routine and elective or planned services.
The announcement comes after talks had been taking place with the government over the past month, following the vote in favour of strike action by British Medical Association members in July.
Consultants – the most senior doctors in the NHS – were given a 3.5% pay increase this year.
But the BMA argues pay has fallen by a quarter over the past 17 years, once inflation is taken into account.
The union also wants a reduction in the standard working week, from 40 to 35 hours, and higher pay for out-of-hours work, alongside changes to pensions, including greater flexibility over when they can be taken.
In a joint statement, BMA consultants committee co-chairs Dr Helen Neary and Dr Shanu Datta, said they had tried to negotiate with the government in "good faith", but "time-and-time again ministers have kicked the can down the road".
"Unfortunately, that road has now run out, and we have been forced to announce strikes.
"Consultants take their responsibilities incredibly seriously, and striking does not come naturally, but we are hearing loud and clear from the profession that they have had enough."