NHS Confederation responds to BMA news that senior doctors are prepared to strike

Responding to the British Medical Association’s (BMA) announcement that members of its consultant and SAS (specialty, associate specialist and specialist doctors) committees in England have voted to enter into formal dispute with the government to secure pay restoration, Rory Deighton, acute director at the NHS Confederation, said:

“Health leaders and the patients they serve will not want to see the spectre of further industrial action by senior doctors and an autumn of disruption to services in the NHS. Further and sustained industrial action will also make winter much more difficult. It will only lead to tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of appointments and operations being placed at risk of being cancelled, leaving patients continuing to wait for treatment in pain and discomfort. Patients with complex conditions who also rely on their consultants could also find their treatment plans disrupted.  

“The government’s ambitious Ten-Year Health Plan has set out a roadmap to deliver major reforms for the NHS - there are now genuine concerns that further and prolonged periods of industrial action will inevitably put making early progress on these major reforms much more difficult to achieve.  

“Our members will continue to try to provide the best care possible and maintain patient safety during any periods of industrial action.

“We would urge BMA representatives to engage with the government to try and urgently find a resolution that addresses the concerns of their members while protecting the delivery of vital services to the public.”