The British Medical Association (BMA) initiated a strike action ballot for Specialist and Associate Specialist (SAS) doctors and a re-ballot for hospital consultants on Monday, aiming to extend their industrial action mandate until June next year. This move comes amidst ongoing and unresolved pay dispute negotiations with the UK Government.
The BMA's consultants committee, led by Dr. Vishal Sharma, confirmed that no new strike dates will be declared while negotiations continue. However, the SAS committee, under the chairmanship of Dr. Ujjwala Anand Mohite, has entered formal negotiations after voting in favor of strike action against an unsatisfactory pay offer from the Government. The SAS doctors are being balloted in case talks fail.
Despite what the BMA describes as "productive and intensive" talks, the progress has been deemed insufficient to alter re-ballot plans. The ballots, which are scheduled to close on December 18, could extend mandates until next June if successful. Both Dr. Sharma and Dr. Mohite expressed hope for a resolution but stressed their readiness for industrial action if necessary.
This development follows a pledge made by these practitioners to the Prime Minister in October to suspend strikes until November 3 to facilitate negotiations. However, talks began just days before this deadline.
Amidst this tension, NHS England urged the Government to urgently resume talks with doctors ahead of winter, warning about the cumulative impact of doctor strikes causing significant disruption and risk to patients. Health Secretary Steve Barclay's criticism of the BMA at the Tory party conference over resistance to GP patient records access via the NHS app further intensified the situation.
Dr. Mohite and Dr. Sharma voiced disappointment at the lack of a credible offer from the Government and emphasized the urgency for a resolution to prevent strike action, which they consider a last resort.
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