UK doctors vote to strike
pharmafile | May 30, 2012 | News story | Medical Communications | BMA, GPs, NHS, UK government, doctors, strike
Doctors will take industrial action for the first time in almost 40 years, the British Medical Association has confirmed.
The action is due to changes to the NHS pension scheme, which the doctors’ union believes is unfair to its members.
The first day of action will take place on 21 June and will see doctors providing all urgent and emergency care, but postponing non-urgent cases, such as elective hip and knee operations.
The doctors’ union said the government has begun to implement major changes to the NHS pension scheme, despite widespread criticism of its approach from organisations representing health professionals.
The latest changes will see doctors paying up to 14.5% of their salaries in pension contributions – this is twice as much as some other public sector staff on a similar salary in order to receive a similar pension.
They will also have to work longer to receive their pension – up to 68 for younger doctors.
The decision to strike over these changes will set up a major conflict with the coalition government, which has so far not backed down from its plans.
The BMA Council said it made its decision after considering the results of its ballots on industrial action that closed yesterday.
Half of the 104,544 doctors eligible to vote took part in the vote. In all a large majority of GPs, consultants, junior doctors, staff, associate specialist and speciality doctors, and public health and community health doctors, voted for the action.
The BMA said its planned action “does not constitute a strike as the term is normally understood by the public”, and stressed that doctors will still be at their usual workplaces.
But although GP practices will remain open, routine appointments will not take place, the BMA said.
Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of Council at the BMA, said: “We are taking this step very reluctantly, and would far prefer to negotiate for a fairer solution.
“But this clear mandate for action – on a very high turnout – reflects just how let down doctors feel by the government’s unwillingness to find a fairer approach to the latest pension changes.
“Non-urgent work will be postponed and, although this will be disruptive to the NHS, doctors will ensure patient safety is protected.
“All urgent and emergency care will be provided and we will work closely with managers so that anyone whose care is going to be affected can be given as much notice as possible. Patients do not need to do anything now.”
But he added that the government’s wholesale changes to an already reformed NHS pension scheme ‘cannot be justified’, and felt there was little alternative but to take this action.
Ben Adams
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