Senior NHS doctors will go on strike in November after the British Medical Association branded a proposed 2.4 per cent pay rise ‘an insult’.

The BMA, the trade union which represents doctors in the UK, claimed its ‘repeated calls to enter formal negotiations’ had been ignored by the Government.

Consultants in England are set to walk out of their jobs from 6.59am on November 25 until 6.59am on November 27 after voting ‘reluctantly but decisively’ in favour of strike action.

The BMA said: ‘We firmly believe this is now the only way to make the Government take consultants and the issues that threaten our profession seriously.’

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said it was ‘disappointing’ to see the BMA choosing to strike rather than ‘continuing dialogue’ with colleagues.

She added: ‘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.’ 

Senior NHS doctors will go on strike in November, the British Medical Association has said (file image)

The BMA Consultants Committee has also demanded a five-hour cut to the working week, which would cost taxpayers £2 to 3billion.

It comes despite consultants earning £152,000 on average this year, and a £25,000 increase to their average earnings over the last four years. 

Sir Ciaran Devane, chief executive of the NHS Alliance, said: ‘NHS leaders will be both astonished and dismayed by the BMA’s decision to proceed with walk outs by consultants at a time when plans to restore waiting time targets hang by a thread and as teams make wider preparations for winter after a gruelling summer.

‘Any decision to down tools risks throwing these plans further off course and will once again disrupt patient care while severely hitting NHS finances.

‘A consultant walk out will result in non-urgent outpatient appointments, elective surgeries and follow-ups being postponed or rescheduled.

‘While this is needed in the interests of patient safety it will potentially leave patients in unnecessary pain, discomfort, and inconvenience.’

Unions put the NHS on notice earlier this month following the below-inflation proposed pay rise.

The BMA described the real-terms pay cut as ‘derisory’ and said it ‘beggars belief’, while the Royal College of Nursing described it as a ‘betrayal’.

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said it was ‘disappointing’ to see the BMA choosing to strike rather than ‘continuing dialogue’ with colleagues (file image) 

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.’

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 members of the BMA voted in favour of a mandate for industrial action in July. 

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

Emergency cover will continue during the strike.

Consumer Prices Index inflation rose to 3.1 per cent in August 2026 with core inflation (excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco) reaching 2.6 per cent.

The Bank of England has said inflation is expected to rise further as a result of global pressures on higher energy prices.

Resident doctors are earning 35.2 per cent more on average than they were four years ago after 15 rounds of strikes that cost the NHS over £3billion and led to the cancellation of 1.5million appointments.

In 2026, the Government accepted a 3.5 per cent pay increase recommended by the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration, exceeding its initial proposal of 2.5 per cent.

In addition to a salary raise, the BMA has asked for a reduction in the full-time working week for consultants, improved payment for out-of-hours work and ensuring consultants towards the end of their career can ‘recoup lost pension value’.

The BMA said: ‘We have now been in dispute for 18 months with a strike action mandate for over three months. 

‘We have tried to get our message through to government and avoid calling industrial action. 

‘Unfortunately, we are now in a position where industrial action is planned if there is no commitment to negotiations with funding to deliver a credible offer.’

A new wave of senior doctor strikes could drag on until next summer after Labour doubled the length of time union barons can legally stage walkouts for.

Under new laws, the strike mandate secured by the BMA will last 12 months.

Under the previous Tory government, strike mandates were capped at six months to limit disruption and so regular ballots could test whether strikes maintained support.

The law change took effect this year and the dispute is one of the first which will allow walkouts for up to 12 months under the new rules, brought in under Labour’s Employment Rights Act 2025.

Tory shadow health secretary Damian Hinds said: ‘From the start, Labour have danced to the trade unions’ tune.

‘Yet despite ministers awarding pay rises without clear expectations around working practices, the strikes are continuing.

‘It is little wonder the BMA are back for more when the Government has shown such weakness in the face of union demands.

‘Health Secretary Yvette Cooper must get a grip of militant unions and ensure changes to pay are paired with minimum service requirements to protect essential services and keep patients safe.

‘The Conservatives will ban doctors’ strikes, putting patients and taxpayers first.’

The walkout will go ahead despite less than half of senior doctors voting for it.

Of 35,067 consultants eligible to vote in the BMA ballot, just 18,069 (52 per cent) did. Of these, 13,695 voted in favour of striking.