Consultants and specialist doctors on strike today over 'pay erosion' across Northern Ireland
Two sets of doctors across Northern Ireland are striking today over long-term “pay erosion”.
Consultants and SAS doctors (standing for specialist, associate specialist and specialty doctors) will be involved in the walk-out from 7am today to 7am tomorrow, while a delegation from the union the British Medical Association (BMA) will meet the chair and deputy chair of Stormont’s health committee today to discuss the dispute.
The BMA said this is the first time either of these two groups have gone on strike in Northern Ireland over pay.
Today’s strike takes the form of ‘Christmas Day cover’, meaning that “most routine and elective services will be cancelled but full emergency cover will remain in place,” according to the BMA.
There are to be no demonstrations at hospitals.
Resident doctors (formally called junior doctors) in Northern Ireland will be on strike on Monday, June 29.
Dr David Farren, chairman of BMA’s Northern Ireland consultants committee, said: “No doctor wants to take strike action. However, there is a palpable sense of anger among all secondary care doctors at years of significant pay erosion in return for trying to deliver care in an overstretched health system.”
At the centre of the row is the BMA’s rejection of a 3.5% pay rise for this year.
It had accepted a roughly 4% pay rise last year.
However, it has argued that over the past 18 years pay has not kept pace with inflation, and that the Republic of Ireland offers much more attractive salaries for doctors, causing many to seek work there instead
Health minister Mike Nesbitt said he is “disappointed” with the strike.
“It is important to stress that over 90% of services across the health and social care system are proceeding as planned,” he said.
" All patients with scheduled appointments on either day should attend as planned unless they have been directly contacted to advise their appointment has been postponed.
"All trusts have activated their planning arrangements to ensure essential services are maintained.”
He also said: “This action is being taken on the mandate of less than a quarter of the medical workforce in Northern Ireland.
"Overall, only 24.8% of doctors locally have voted to take this action.”
Some 1,167 consultants were balloted for strike action, with the turnout being 58.8% (equivalent to 686 doctors) – with 79% of those voting opting to strike.
Between 600 and 700 SAS doctors were balloted, with the turnout being 36% – with 90% of those voting being in favour of a strike.
In addition, 1,599 resident doctors were balloted, with the turnout being 38% (equivalent to 608 doctors) – with 92% of those voting opting to strike.