The Government must not ignore doctors’ concerns, the BMA has warned, after senior physicians in England voted to back the possibility of strike action over pay.

Association leaders are urging health secretary Wes Streeting to meet and find a way forward on restoring pay and improving working conditions, after indicative ballot results revealed a majority of consultants and specialist, associate specialist and specialty doctors were willing to take part in industrial action.

The ballots, which were conducted online between 21 July and 1 September, found that 82 per cent of SAS doctors and 67 per cent of consultants when asked said they would consider striking in response to this year’s sub-inflationary pay awards of 4 per cent.

In addition to restoring pay, which in the case of consultants and SAS doctors has diminished in real terms by 26 per cent and 24 per cent respectively since 2008/09, doctors leaders are determined to address other shortcomings affecting working conditions and pensions.

The BMA is urging the Government to work with it to restore senior doctors’ pay, value and professionalism, as surveys of consultants and SAS doctors in England found that a majority are willing to take part in industrial action.

In 2023, consultants in England took industrial action for the first time in half a century, with BMA consultants committee co-chairs Helen Neary and Shanu Datta warning that today’s ballot results showed consultants were ready and prepared to take similar action again.

They said: ‘This is a clear sign of our members’ deep concern over the erosion to their pay, pensions and the value placed in their professionalism, not just in the most recent year, but over the last decade and more.

‘Consultants’ pay is still more than a quarter down on 2008 levels and lagging way behind other professions, which are well on the way to – or have already experienced – having their pay restored.

‘We know from our dispute two years ago that taking industrial action does not come lightly for consultants, but these responses show that they are still willing to stand up to secure much-needed improvements to their working lives and conditions; changes that are so needed to keep consultants and their expertise working in the NHS, universities and in public health teams, all of which ultimately benefit patients and the health of the wider population.

‘We know that the secretary of state understands that his and the Government’s ambitions to improve health services and the health of the nation cannot be done without our most expert clinicians, and we look forward to discuss how the country can both recruit and retain consultants and avoid them having to take to the picket line once more.’

CC has outlined its determination to restore the value of the profession by addressing issues such as the erosion of supporting professional activities time and improving pension arrangements.

SAS doctors meanwhile want to work with the Government to reach commitments to boost career progression through measures such as the creation of additional specialist posts and increasing SAS doctors’ access to leadership roles in the NHS.

BMA specialist, associate specialist and specialty committee chair Ujjwala Mohite said SAS doctors had been overlooked and undervalued for too long, adding that the decisive nature of the ballot result should leave ministers under no illusion as to the strength of resolve now felt.

She said: ‘SAS doctors are the unsung heroes of the NHS – hardworking, but for too long overlooked and undervalued. Today’s results show that this invaluable group of doctors will no longer take this lying down and are willing to stand up and be recognised.

‘SAS doctors are tired of being taken for granted, and are willing to fight for improvements to pay, career progression and development, so they are no longer the "forgotten workforce".

‘The Government ignores this significant portion of the senior medical workforce at its peril, and we’re looking forward to getting around the table to discuss how ministers can properly value and support SAS doctors so that they can excel and continue to offer their full potential to patients and the NHS.’

For more information on the ballot results