Consultants confirm July industrial action but more nurse strikes averted

The British Medical Association, which announced results of its ballot on 27 June, said: 

"This industrial action will take the form of Christmas Day cover. This means that most routine and elective services will be cancelled but full emergency cover will remain in place."

More than seven in 10 consultant members of the BMA voted in the ballot, 86% of whom backed industrial action. The BMA says there has been a 35% real-terms pay cut in consultants' pay since 2008-09.

However, further nurse strikes are now off the cards after the Royal College of Nursing said 43% of members had returned voting papers, short of the required 50% threshold. Of the 122,000 nurse votes received, 84% had been in favour of national strike action. The college said it would continue to pressure the government for fair pay and safe staffing levels.