NHS consultants to strike for two days in November, BMA announces

Senior doctors in England, represented by the British Medical Association (BMA), will stage a two-day strike starting at 6:59 AM on 25 November. Only emergency cover will be provided during the industrial action, as consultants escalate their dispute with the government over pay and working conditions. The BMA’s decision follows a series of walkouts by junior doctors and comes amid a deepening crisis in the National Health Service, where waiting lists have reached record levels. The strike is expected to cause significant disruption to planned care, including outpatient appointments and non-urgent surgeries, as hospitals prioritize urgent and emergency services. The BMA argues that consultant pay has fallen in real terms by 35% since 2008, and that the government’s latest offer fails to address recruitment and retention challenges. With winter pressures looming, health leaders warn that further industrial action could strain an already overstretched system. The outcome of upcoming negotiations may determine whether the NHS faces a prolonged period of disruption.