Consultants in Scotland to be balloted for strike action

Jacob King/PA Wire

By Craig Meighan, PA Media, and Erin Dean

Scotland faces the possibility of senior doctor strikes after the British Medical Association announced consultants would be balloted for industrial action.

BMA Scotland said consultants were being “taken for granted” by the Scottish Government which relied on medics working overtime to keep patients safe.

Dr Joanna Bredski, chairwoman of the BMA Scottish consultants committee, accused the health secretary of taking a “sticking plaster” approach to health, with doctors going beyond their agreed roles and responsibilities to “keep services afloat”.

She said Angela Constance had refused to enter into talks with consultants about improving their working conditions.

If they vote in favour of action over pay and working conditions, it will be the first time Scottish doctors have gone on strike, the BMA said.

The Scottish specialist, associate specialist and specialty doctor committee is in formal dispute with the government and will be meeting on 16 September to make a decision on moving to ballot.