NI health: Hospital doctors to strike in pay dispute

Hospital doctors in Northern Ireland have voted in favour of industrial action, in a dispute over pay. The British Medical Association (BMA) balloted its members over a four-week period after doctors' leaders rejected a recommended 3.5% pay uplift from an independent pay body. Two separate 24-hour walk outs will take place on Thursday 25 and Monday 29 June but emergency and critical care will not be affected. Planned operations and procedures will be postponed. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said he was "disappointed at the outcome of the ballot". He said he remained committed to "implementing this year's pay award" but added that he was "currently unable to do so" in the absence of an agreed budget. There had been hope that Stormont could agree a multi-year budget in January for the first time in more than 10 years, but that did not happen. Nesbitt added that the recommended 3.5% uplift was "higher than that which has been recommended for other healthcare professionals". Resident doctors and consultants were balloted about pay, with 92% of resident doctors voting yes and 79% of consultants voting for strike action. The result of the ballot of SAS doctors (specialist, associate speci