NHS senior doctors in England vote in favour of strikes

Senior doctors across England have voted in favour of strike action in the future over pay and pensions.

In a ballot, 76% of consultants who are members of the British Medical Association (BMA) said they would be willing to take industrial action, meaning they now have a mandate for strike action over the next 12 months.

It comes after resident doctors, formally known as junior doctors, accepted a pay deal with government to end three years of strikes.

Patients have seen hundreds of thousands appointments cancelled due to industrial action over the past few years.

The BMA says no strikes need to take place if the government addresses the issues that include an "end to pay erosion".

Of 35,067 eligible members, 18,069 (51.53%) voted, with 13,695 voting yes to potential strike action.

Dr Helen Neary and Dr Shanu Datta, co-chairs of the BMA consultants committee, said: "This is a clear message from consultants in England that they are not willing to tolerate the continued attack on their pay and professional value, and that, if necessary, they are willing to act."