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.”
Health and Social Care Secretary James Murray said there was “no justification” for strikes given consultants are some of the highest paid public sector staff, and among the top 2% of earners in the country.
“After a 28.5% increase in basic starting pay over the last four years and with the average consultant now earning over £152,000 a year, there is simply no justification for strikes that will cause disruption to patients and the NHS.
“Consultants are an invaluable part of the NHS workforce, and we have been working closely with them to improve job planning and modernise their contracts. Strikes would only get in the way of this important work.
“I urge the BMA and all consultants not to rush into another cycle of unnecessary and disruptive industrial action.”
The BMA says average pay is still 26% lower in real terms that it was 17 years ago and that the final pay point of a consultant in England is £16,000 lower than that of colleagues in Wales.
Consultants in England last walked out between July and October 2023, which included two strikes co-ordinated with resident doctors.
Consultants and specialist doctors in Northern Ireland though have striking over pay in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, a ballot of specialist, associate specialist and specialty (SAS) doctors in England missed the legal turnout threshold.
Some 2,738 SAS doctors voted, a turnout of 43%.
However, the BMA said that of those who did take part in the ballot, 90% voted in favour of strikes.
