Thousands of doctors to stage one-day strike over pensions

ABOUT 10,000 doctors in Scotland will take part in a one-day strike on 21 June in protest at the government’s planned pension reforms.

Members of the British Medical Association voted in favour of taking industrial action for the first time in almost 40 years, blaming ministers for pressing ahead with “totally unjustified” increases to pension contributions and a later retirement age.

Non-urgent cases will be postponed on 21 June as part of disruption caused by the “reluctant” day of action. The union said emergency care would still be administered and that patients would not be put at risk.

Last night patient groups said the move would cause concern but defended doctors’ right to strike, saying they had “no choice”.

Dr Brian Keighley, chairman of the BMA in Scotland, said: “We have taken this decision reluctantly, but it is the only means by which we can demonstrate our anger at the UK government’s unfair and unnecessary changes to the NHS pension scheme.

“They have refused to negotiate meaningfully and, given doctors’ strength of feeling, we have been left with no option but to go forward with this action.”

Under the pension plans – which at present only apply to England and Wales but are likely to be introduced in Scotland – the age at which doctors retire would rise from 65 to 68 by 2015. Their pension contributions will also increase by up to 14.5 per cent, twice as much as other public sector staff, they say.

Dr Keighley said: “Despite the Scottish Government’s commitment to continued talks with health trade unions in Scotland, there seems little that the Scottish Government is willing or able to do other than to follow the route set out for England and Wales.”

The action is likely to mean elective surgeries, such as knee and hip replacements, being postponed and appointments for routine conditions cancelled. GP surgeries are expected to remain open but routine appointments will be postponed.

All accident and emergency units and maternity services will be unaffected and tests for critical illnesses, such as cancer, will be likely to go ahead.

The Patients’ Association last night said that many patients would be dismayed at the action, but said it understood why doctors opted to strike.

Chairwoman Margaret Watt said: “We know doctors have taken this route as a last option – we believe they had no choice but to do this.

“The blame for this lies fair and square with politicians, who have refused to listen to the concerns of our doctors.”

But Dean Royles, director of NHS Employers, added: “Industrial action could potentially mean delays to treatment and will be particularly distressing for patients and extremely worrying for staff.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “While we do not support industrial action, we have made clear our principled opposition to UK government policy to increase employee contributions.”

It will be the first time since 1975 that doctors have taken industrial action.