Consultant doctors in England suspended a planned Nov. 25-26 strike after the British Medical Association (BMA) secured government negotiations on pay and working conditions, shifting the dispute into formal talks.
The BMA said its consultants committee decided to pause the action at an urgent meeting Tuesday, Nov. 10, after meetings with the health secretary. The original plan called for a two-day walkout on Nov. 25 and 26. The union said the suspension follows an agreement to hold formal negotiations.
The union said the dispute began in May 2025 and consultants secured a mandate for industrial action in July 2026. The BMA says consultant pay has fallen 25% in real terms over 17 years. Its requested changes include more protected time for teaching and service improvement, shorter standard hours, and better recognition for demanding out-of-hours work. The union says the measures would address burnout and help retain experienced consultants in the National Health Service (NHS). It also links the dispute to workload strain and what it describes as unsustainable pressures.
Proposals from officials on pay and working conditions are expected, the union said. The BMA added that negotiators would be free to raise any subject. Dr. Helen Neary and Dr. Shanu Datta, co-chairs of the BMA consultants committee, welcomed formal talks but warned that “our patience is not infinite.” They said the union “will call further action” if negotiations fail to swiftly deliver on the issues at the heart of the dispute.
NHS Employers welcomed the pause and urged both sides to reach an agreement that supports safe, high-quality care. Its chief executive, Ben Morrin, called it “a vital chance to reset the conversation.”
The BMA had said emergency cover would continue if the walkout went ahead, at staffing levels similar to Christmas Day. EconoTimes previously reported the union’s plan for the two-day strike. The notice linked the walkout to concerns over pay and working conditions, now the focus of government talks.
