Hospital Consultants in England Strike for the First Time in Ten Years

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Summary:

  • Hospital consultants in England strike for the first time in ten years, demanding better pay and improved working conditions.
  • The government's acceptance of the 6% pay review body recommendation is seen as inadequate by consultants, who are facing a 35% pay erosion over the last 15 years.
  • Trust leaders express concern over the potential impact of the strike on patient care, with nearly three-quarters of a million appointments canceled in the past eight months due to industrial action.

Hospital consultants in England have gone on strike for the first time in a decade, demanding better pay and improved working conditions. The two-day strike comes after junior doctors recently ended their five-day strike, intensifying the ongoing crisis in the National Health Service (NHS). Trust leaders are expressing concern over the potential impact on patient care, with nearly three-quarters of a million appointments canceled in the past eight months due to industrial action.


Hospital consultants are protesting against a 35% pay erosion over the last 15 years, leading to a significant impact on the workforce, as more consultants are leaving the NHS for better opportunities abroad. The government claims it has listened to demands on consultants' pensions and accepted the 6% pay review body recommendation, but consultants argue that it is not enough to address the longstanding pay issues. Dr. Vishal Sharma, a consultant cardiologist and the chair of the British Medical Association's Consultants Committee, stated that the sudden announcement of a 6% pay increase with no further talks from the government was unreasonable and a political decision.


The consultants have announced two more strike dates in August, as the impasse between the government and consultants continues. Patients are facing disruptions and cancellations, and the public's support for the strike remains divided. The future of the NHS and its ability to tackle waiting lists and provide quality care depend on finding a resolution to the ongoing crisis.

Location: London, UK

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