Consultants in England begin two days of strikes with more dates planned

Consultants in England began a 48 hour strike on 24 August, with more action planned for 19-20 September and 2-4 October, as they committed to long term protests over the government’s failure to enter pay talks. They will provide “Christmas Day” cover during the strikes, with emergency services running as normal.

The BMA says that consultants have seen their take home pay fall by more than a third since 2008-09 and is urging the government to end the real terms pay cuts and reform the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB) so that it can be truly independent in reviewing consultants’ pay.

In July the government made what it described as a “final offer” of a 6% pay increase for doctors in England and an extra £1250 consolidated payment for junior doctors …