Senior doctors in England to strike for two days in November

Senior doctors in England plan to go on strike for two days in November over pay, the British Medical Association (BMA) has said.

England's most senior hospital doctors plan to strike on 25 and 26 November after the BMA said the government had failed to offer any meaningful commitment to solving the long-running dispute over the value and sustainability of the consultant role.

The union accused the government of "ignoring concerns" around the "wellbeing and workload" of medics.

The strike can be avoided if Health Secretary Yvette Cooper commits to formal negotiations on pay and working conditions, the BMA said.

There will be emergency cover during the strike, similar to how hospitals are staffed on Christmas Day.

Consultants in England last went on strike in 2023, but have been in dispute with the government since last year.

The planned walkout comes after BMA members voted in favour of a mandate for industrial action in July.

Dr Helen Neary and Dr Shanu Datta, co-chairs of the BMA's consultants committee, said: "As the most senior and skilled doctors in the NHS, consultants not only provide frontline, life-saving care, but they are central to running and designing services, training and supervising the future workforce, and ensuring patients get the best treatment possible.

"Solving the pressures facing the health service will be impossible without valuing and retaining these doctors. Yet the government is failing to recognise this, ignoring our concerns around consultants' wellbeing and workload, and pushing them further away from the NHS.

"And as the much-lauded progress on waiting lists in England stalls, the government is also telling consultants they deserve another pay cut.

"Since we entered into dispute over 18 months ago, we have engaged in good faith with the government, proposing practical solutions, 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."

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The committee has been in talks with the government over measures to tackle burnout and keep consultants in the NHS.

This includes more protected time to focus on teaching the next generation of medics, reducing standard hours to bring consultants in line with other NHS staff, and higher recognition for the most taxing out-of-hours work.

The BMA claims consultant pay in Ireland can be as much as double that in England.

The announcement comes a week after the government recommended a 2.4% pay increase for doctors for the 2027/28 financial year in evidence submitted to the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration.

Ms Cooper said: "The government is working with staff across the NHS to prepare for winter, improve care for patients and make our health service better for the whole workforce.

"NHS England and the Department have been in constructive discussions with the BMA, so it is very disappointing to see the BMA committee choosing this response rather than continuing with that dialogue.

"With colleagues across the NHS, I am determined to support staff and patients through the tough winter period.

"I hope the BMA will stay united with us in that effort, and not take irresponsible action that would place our health service under even greater pressure at this crucial time."

(c) Sky News 2026: Senior doctors in England to strike for two days in November