​First strike ballot of junior doctors in Northern Ireland opens as Department of Health outlines fears of further adding to already severe pressures on services

​They are being asked to vote over whether to take a 24-hour strike over pay in March.

The British Medical Association’s Northern Ireland junior doctors committee (NIJDC) said it comes amid frustration at a “continued failure to address pay erosion, which now equates to a 30% reduction in 15 years”.

The ballot comes following industrial action by a number of groups of public sector workers in Northern Ireland because of an ongoing lack of pay parity with their counterparts in the rest of the UK who have achieved a pay rise.

A general strike is set to take place on January 18, with participation expected by health workers, midwives, radiographers, teachers and civil servants.

NIJDC chair Dr Fiona Griffin described the ballot for a 24-hour strike from 8am on March 6 to 8am on March 7 as “unprecedented” among junior doctors in Northern Ireland.

“They are the worst-paid with the worst working conditions of any of the UK nations and this is why we are encouraging them to vote yes and to show the strength of their feeling both in the ballot and in subsequent strike action,” she said.

“Our members made clear to us over summer 2023 that they have had enough. When we surveyed them, 75% said they were considering moving abroad to work for better pay and conditions; 72% said they were now more likely to leave training entirely because of low pay; 61% said they were not paid fairly for the work that they do.

“Our health service cannot afford to lose these doctors, which is why we need to address the issues around pay urgently. This can be done with an immediate above inflation pay rise and a commitment to full pay restoration in Northern Ireland.”

Dr Griffin urged the Government to engage with NIJDC as a matter of urgency.

“Let me reiterate that strike action does not need to happen,” she said.

“We are willing to talk to Government to avoid this outcome. We would welcome any approach from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to talk to us.

“We are meeting with the Permanent Secretary for Health and we would urge them to consider our asks and work with us to improve the working lives of doctors in Northern Ireland.

“If we do not see any progress towards achieving our aims, we will have to escalate our action and there will be longer strikes.”

The ballot will runs for six weeks and the results are to be announced on February 19.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said: “The Department of Health fully understands the scale of the frustration among health and care staff about pay.

"Unfortunately, the 2023/24 health budget provided no scope for a pay offer to be tabled for this year.

"We recognise that this is not a sustainable position and remain committed to pursuing all avenues to help achieve a resolution.

"The Department respects the right of every individual to take industrial action. However, doing so at this time - with no route to a successful resolution currently available - would only further add to already severe pressures on services.”

A Northern Ireland Office spokesperson said: “The Secretary of State’s talks on stabilising the finances of a returning Executive with the four parties eligible to form the Northern Ireland Executive have now concluded.

"The fair and generous package offered by the UK Government is worth over £3bn, including up to £584m to address public sector pay, and more than £1bn to stabilise Northern Ireland’s public services.

"The Secretary of State has expressed his disappointment that a new executive was not up and running to take this offer and deliver it for the people of NI before Christmas.

"However, this package is on the table and will remain there, available on day one of an incoming Northern Ireland Executive to take up.

“It is now for the NI Parties to come together, restore the Executive and begin to address the challenges facing the people of Northern Ireland, including public sector pay.”

In England, junior doctors in England are nearing the end of a six-day strike, which is the longest walkout in the history of the health service.