Consultants issue strike warning

Consultants rejected a new contract last year

Doctors have warned the government they will take industrial action if fresh talks on a new consultant contract fail.

Health Secretary John Reid is due to meet senior members of the British Medical Association on Friday in an effort to break the deadlock between the two sides.

Ministers, including Mr Reid, had previously ruled out new talks.

Doctors at the BMA's annual conference in Torquay welcomed the move saying they wanted to reach agreement with the government over new pay and conditions for consultants.

Agreement hope

However, they warned that they would still consider taking industrial action if the talks failed.

Dr Paul Miller, chairman of the BMA's consultants' committee, told the conference that he hoped agreement could be reached.

Industrial action may still be necessary

Mr Nizam Mamode,
BMA

"Our new secretary of state has arranged to meet us on Friday and says he wants to sort it out, to work with us to address the problems.

"I welcome that and he will find us prepared and keen to work hard with him," he said.

"We stand ready to do the hard thing, to put the conflict behind us, to achieve a new contract which will be good for patients and good for consultants."

Mr Nizam Mamode, deputy chairman of the consultants' committee, said: "We want a new consultants contract.

"NHS managers want a new consultant contract," he said. "Patients want a new consultant contract."

Doctors at the conference overwhelmingly backed a motion pledging to support the BMA in "whatever action it considers necessary, including industrial action, should talks fail".

"There will be a new consultant contract one way or the other," said Mr Mamode.

"Industrial action may still be necessary."

Consultants overwhelmingly rejected a proposed new contract last year.

They voted against substantial pay rises because of fears they would be forced to work evenings and weekends.

They were also concerned that the contract would give NHS managers too much say over how they work.

Dr Ian Wilson, a member of the consultants' committee, said doctors were not prepared to accept a "Stalinist" approach to employment relations from the government.

Addressing the conference, he said: "Mr Reid, you should not see our willingness to meet you as a weakening of our resolve."