Consultants and specialist doctors balloted over strike action

Balloting consultants and senior doctors for strike action is the “only route” to make Scottish ministers “take our concerns seriously”, medical leaders have insisted.

The British Medical Association (BMA) Scotland said that industrial action by NHS staff – which Holyrood ministers have so far avoided – is “possible” but is still “far from inevitable”.

Speaking as a ballot of consultants and specialist and associate specialist (SAS) doctors got under way on Monday, Dr Sine Steele, chairwoman of BMA Scotland’s specialist, associate specialist and specialty doctor committee, told ministers: “The Scottish Government has the power to stop senior doctors taking industrial action by coming back to the negotiating table and working with us to improve working conditions and find solutions to address pay erosion.”

She was also clear that doctors “believe this ballot is now the only route to making the Scottish Government take our concerns seriously”.

She spoke out as Dr Joanna Bredski, chairwoman of BMA Scotland’s consultant committee, said: “We are having to hold this ballot to get the Scottish Government to understand that senior doctors are no longer prepared to put up with impossible workloads, understaffing and being undervalued as they work beyond their roles and responsibilities to keep services afloat.

“This is not just about the future of the profession – chronic vacancies and burnout are a risk to patient safety and the long-term future of the NHS.

“We have to stand up now for sustainable working conditions and fair pay uplifts so we can keep experienced doctors in Scotland to protect the future workforce and the services that patients rely on.”

She said BMA Scotland had “repeatedly attempted to secure meaningful negotiations with Scottish Government” but this had been “without success”.

While they are “reluctantly” balloting for industrial action, she added that a vote in favour of striking would “demonstrate how frustrated and angry senior doctors are”.

Dr Bredski said: “Taking industrial action is a last resort – but if Scottish Government refuse to come back to the negotiating table and it is the only way for our voices to be heard, we will be prepared to take action.”

Back in August the Scottish Government announced a 3.5% pay increase for senior doctors, including consultants, GPs, specialty, specialist and associate specialist (SAS) doctors – but the BMA warned at the time the offer from ministers was not good enough.

Dr Steele, meanwhile, said the organisation had “repeatedly warned the Scottish Government of the need to improve working conditions for senior doctors and ensure they are properly rewarded for the increasingly difficult job they do”.

She claimed the Government “appears unwilling to take these concerns seriously”, adding there “instead seems to be a desire to bulldoze through reforms without consulting doctors and NHS staff – including the plans to reduce health boards in Scotland and, according to recent reports, a major overhaul of orthopaedic services”.

Health Secretary Angela Constance said it was “incorrect” to claim the Government was not in dialogue with the BMA – with Ms Constance saying she had met Dr Bredski on August 5 and had then met the new chair of the BMA in Scotland a few weeks ago, and had “committed to further bilateral discussions”.

Ms Constance added: “Strike action is not in the interests of patients and will inevitably result in disruption to NHS services and longer waits for treatment.

“We urge BMA Scotland to reconsider its position given consultants and specialists have received a 3.5% pay increase.

“Indeed, this will mean consultants in NHS Scotland will receive an average uplift of £4,535 and those consultants at the top of the pay scale now earn more than £150,000 per year, while specialist doctors will earn up to just over £115,000.”

The Health Secretary added that this increase came about after the Government accepted in full independent recommendations on doctors’ pay.

She added that while the BMA had “argued for substantially higher increases” throughout that process, the independent review body “did not support that position”.

Ms Constance said: “We have therefore acted on independent expert advice and implemented the recommendation in full.

“This increase is in line with wider public sector pay awards delivered across Scotland this year. It represents a fair, balanced and affordable settlement at a time of significant pressure on public finances which recognises the vital contribution senior doctors make to our NHS.”