Consultant doctors in England have paused a two-day strike scheduled for 25 and 26 November to allow formal negotiations with the government over pay and working conditions. Health Secretary Yvette Cooper welcomed the decision, saying she had held 'constructive' discussions with the BMA consultants committee.
The consultants voted in July to take industrial action, which was announced by the BMA after 18 months of talks with the government failed to lead to agreement on key issues. It would have seen consultants provide only emergency care, probably leading to delays for routine and elective services.
The dispute centres on a 25% real-terms reduction in consultants' salaries since 2009-10 and a requested 10% cut in working hours. Consultants received a 3.5% pay increase this year. The BMA said the proposed strike action was also about 'ensuring consultants have the time, recognition and support they need to deliver the best possible care for patients and secure the future of the NHS , while not driving themselves to burnout'.
The strike has been paused to allow formal negotiations. Dr Helen Neary and Dr Shanu Datta, co-chairs of the BMA consultants committee, said they welcomed the chance to open talks and hoped it marked a turning point. 'We’ve always said strikes do not need to go ahead as long as the government is willing to genuinely negotiate, and now is their chance to do so,' they added. The co-chairs said they had received assurances that there are no constraints on what they discuss, and that they look forward to hearing proposals on pay and working conditions.
Cooper said the BMA consultants committee's decision was 'welcome news for patients and the wider NHS', avoiding disruption and allowing staff to focus on services and preparing for winter. She described her discussion as 'constructive' and said reforms discussed could give consultants a stronger voice, greater flexibility and more freedom to innovate. She said they were committed to taking that work forward in the weeks ahead.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The strike pause avoids disruption to NHS services during a challenging winter period, benefiting patients who rely on elective and routine care.
- The willingness of both sides to return to negotiations after 18 months could mark a change in approach to resolving the long-running pay dispute.
- The outcome of talks could set a precedent for future NHS pay and conditions negotiations.
Background
The dispute began with consultants' concerns over pay erosion and working hours. The BMA says consultants' pay has fallen by 25% in real terms since 2009-10. Consultants voted for industrial action in July 2026. The government and BMA held 18 months of talks without agreement, leading to the strike announcement. The strike was paused when the health secretary agreed to formal negotiations without preconditions.
Key Perspectives
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper: Welcomed the pause as 'welcome news for patients', described the talks as 'constructive', and committed to working with the BMA on reforms in the coming weeks.
BMA consultants committee (co-chairs Dr Helen Neary and Dr Shanu Datta): Welcomed the chance for formal negotiations, expressed hope it marks a turning point, and noted assurances that there are no constraints on discussions; they look forward to proposals on pay and working conditions.
What to Watch
- Government proposals on pay and working conditions, expected in the coming weeks.
- The BMA's response to those proposals and whether its members accept or reject any deal.
- Potential impact on NHS winter waiting lists if negotiations break down and strike action resumes.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedConsultant doctors in England called off a two-day strike for pay negotiations.World news | The Guardian: “Consultant doctors in England call off two-day pay strike.”
- SupportedThe BMA paused industrial action to allow formal negotiations.World news | The Guardian: “However, the strike action has now been paused to allow for formal negotiations with the government, the BMA said.”
- SupportedConsultants paused a two-day strike scheduled for 25 and 26 November to allow formal negotiations.World news | The Guardian: “Scheduled for 25 and 26 November, the action was announced by the British Medical Association when 18 months of talks with the government failed to lead to agreement on key issues. ... However, the strike action has now been paused to allow for formal negotiations with the government, the BMA said.”
- SupportedYvette Cooper welcomed the pause and said she had held “constructive” discussions with the BMA consultants committee.World news | The Guardian: “The pause was welcomed by the health secretary, Yvette Cooper, who said she had held “constructive” talks with the BMA’s consultants committee.”
- Partly supportedThe proposed strike would have involved emergency care only and probably delayed routine and elective services.World news | The Guardian: “The strike would have resulted in consultants carrying out emergency care only, which would probably have led to delays for most routine and elective services.”
- SupportedThe BMA announced the strike after 18 months of talks with the government failed to reach agreement on key issues.World news | The Guardian: “the action was announced by the British Medical Association when 18 months of talks with the government failed to lead to agreement on key issues.”
- SupportedConsultants’ salaries had fallen 25% in real terms since 2009-10.World news | The Guardian: “The issues included a 25% fall in the real-terms value of salaries since 2009-10.”
- SupportedThe requested reduction in working hours was 10%.World news | The Guardian: “The issues included a 25% fall in the real-terms value of salaries since 2009-10 and a requested 10% cut in working hours.”
- SupportedConsultants received a 3.5% pay increase this year.World news | The Guardian: “Although consultants were given a 3.5% increase this year, the BMA said pay had fallen by a quarter over the past 17 years in real terms.”
- SupportedThe BMA said the strike was also about “ensuring consultants have the time, recognition and support they need to deliver the best possible care for patients and secure the future of the NHS , while not driving themselves to burnout”.World news | The Guardian: “The BMA said the proposed strike action was also about “ensuring consultants have the time, recognition and support they need to deliver the best possible care for patients and secure the future of the NHS , while not driving themselves to burnout”.”
- SupportedThe BMA consultants committee co-chairs said, “We’ve always said strikes do not need to go ahead as long as the government is willing to genuinely negotiate, and now is their chance to do so”.World news | The Guardian: ““We’ve always said strikes do not need to go ahead as long as the government is willing to genuinely negotiate, and now is their chance to do so,” they added.”
- Partly supportedCooper called the committee’s decision “welcome news for patients and the wider NHS” and said it would avoid disruption and allow staff to focus on services and preparing for winter.World news | The Guardian: “The BMA consultants committee’s decision to call off planned strike action is welcome news for patients and the wider NHS, avoiding disruption to care and allowing NHS staff to focus on delivering services and preparing for a challenging winter.”