NHS consultants in England plan November strike over pay and conditions
Senior NHS consultants in England plan to strike for two days in November, after the BMA called the Government’s proposed 2.4 per cent pay rise an insult. The union says repeated requests for formal talks have been ignored and argues that better pay and conditions are needed to retain experienced doctors and address pressures on the health service.
The walkout is scheduled from 6.59am on 25 November to 6.59am on 27 November, with emergency cover continuing. The BMA says the strike could be avoided if Health Secretary Yvette Cooper agrees to negotiations on pay and working conditions. Its requests include a shorter full-time working week, improved out-of-hours pay and pension changes; CPI inflation was 3.1 per cent in August 2026.
In short
- Senior consultants in England plan a two-day strike in November.
- The BMA says the proposed 2.4 per cent rise is inadequate.
- Emergency cover is expected to continue during the walkout.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Consultants can argue that a 2.4 per cent rise, below the reported 3.1 per cent inflation rate, would reduce their real-terms pay and fail to recognise their responsibilities and working conditions. Negotiating on pay, hours, out-of-hours work and pensions could help retain experienced doctors and ease staffing pressures, ultimately supporting patients and the NHS.
The case against
The Government can argue that pay awards must be weighed against the NHS budget and competing public services, and that a larger settlement could require cuts elsewhere or add pressure to public finances. Even with emergency cover, a strike risks disrupting planned care and placing added strain on patients and colleagues; negotiations need not mean accepting every requested change.
Explained simply
NHS consultants are senior doctors who lead treatment in hospitals and supervise other medical staff. They are employed by the NHS, and their pay and working conditions are negotiated with the Government.
The British Medical Association (BMA) is a doctors’ union that represents consultants in these negotiations. Pay disputes matter to the health service because they can affect how easily it recruits and keeps experienced doctors, as well as the care and appointments hospitals can provide.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Senior doctors in England to go on strike for two days in November as BMA brands proposed 2.4% pay rise ‘an insult’”.