NHS Wales: Consultants and specialist doctors to strike

BMA members have voted in favour for strike action over a dispute in pay

Consultant and specialist doctors in Wales have voted in favour of strike action in a dispute over pay.

The industrial action takes place from 7am on 16 April until 7am on 18 April.

They will walk out over workplace conditions caused by extreme pressures, and unsafe staffing levels, the British Medical Association (BMA) said.

Figures suggest these two groups of doctors make up 54% of the hospital-based medical workforce, though not all are union members.

The Welsh government said it agreed "with the principle of pay restoration" but is unable to offer it until the UK government passes "on the funding necessary for full and fair pay rises for public sector workers".

The BMA said Christmas Day cover will be provided over the 48-hour strike, to ensure emergency care, but all elective or non-emergency work will be postponed.

The decision followed a Welsh government offer of 5%, though the BMA said for SAS doctors (specialist, associate specialist and specialty) on more recent contracts, the offer was as low as 2.5%.

Stephen Kelly, chair of the BMA's consultants committee in Wales, said: "No doctor wants to strike, but the conditions now faced in the workplace caused by the extreme pressures on the service and unsafe staffing levels have left doctors with no choice.   

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"Fewer doctors now want to develop their careers in Wales with some health boards reporting vacancy rates of over third for senior doctor posts.  

"Colleagues are now choosing to retire early, reduce their hours or move out of Wales where pay is competitive, and wards better staffed."

This action is separate to the industrial action also under way by junior doctors in Wales, who are also members of the BMA.

Their third period of strike action is set to take place over four days from 25-28 March.

Julie Jones, deputy chair of the BMA's SAS doctors' committee in Wales, said doctors are burning out from covering significant gaps in the workforce and patient safety is at risk.

"People are waiting for treatment for longer than ever before, resulting in poorer outcomes and more time in the hospital and we all deserve better.

"This result represents a profession that is not ready to give up on the NHS and its patients in Wales".

The Welsh government said without additional funding it could not offer more than the 5% increase for 2023-24.

"We remain committed to working in social partnership with the British Medical Association and are available for further talks at any stage," it said.

"We will work with the NHS, unions and partners to ensure life-saving and life-maintaining care is provided during the industrial action, and patient safety is maintained."

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