GPs set for first industrial action in 37 years

The British Medical Association (BMA) called on the Scottish Government to intervene over the planned reforms, after a poll found 84 per cent of its members were opposed to changes being put forward by the UK government. It came as health secretary Nicola Sturgeon announced changes to ambulance staff working hours in a deal to end the long-running dispute over paramedics1 being disturbed during meal breaks.

The BMA urged ministers at Holyrood to take a “different course” over proposed pension changes which it said had left doctors feeling “let down and betrayed”.

A UK-wide survey by the organisation of 130,000 doctors and medical students – including 6,638 in Scotland – found an overwhelming majority opposed to the pension reforms, with almost two-thirds prepared to take some form of industrial action. More than a third (36 per cent) of doctors aged 50 and over said they intended to retire if the changes went through.

Doctors have not taken industrial action since 1975 and it is unlikely they will agree to an all-out strike. However, one option is for a form of work-to-rule, which could see the cancellation of some clinical procedures, particularly at weekends.

Dr Brian Keighley, chairman of the BMA in Scotland, said: “The Scottish Government should not underestimate the strength and scale of feeling of doctors on this issue – they feel let down and betrayed. Our survey illustrates the depth of anger about the unfairness of changes to the NHS pension scheme, which was radically overhauled less than four years ago, and which delivers a positive cashflow to the Treasury to the tune of £2 billion a year.

“Doctors are frustrated and this survey reflects that they have come under repeated attack on several fronts. Their contracts are being devalued and undermined by NHS employers and now politicians are attacking the NHS pension scheme.

“While this approach might deliver some savings in the short term, it will, in the longer term, cause damage to patient care and the loss of doctors from the NHS, as many may choose to retire early.”

Under the final offer proposed by the UK government, some doctors will see their pension contributions rise from 8.5 per cent to 14.5 per cent of their salary. They will also have to work longer before they can retire.

Existing methods of pension accrual will be replaced by a career average revalued earnings scheme for all doctors and there will be no automatic lump sum, currently enjoyed by some doctors upon retirement.

According to the BMA, the proposed changes would see doctors working until 68, an age beyond which many feel “competent and safe”.

But Margaret Watt, chairman of the Scotland Patients’ Association, said there would be little sympathy from the public, with many professions faced with the prospect of a squeeze on public sector pensions.

She said: “It’s sad that we’ve come to this and I hope and pray that patients are tolerant. However, many will be in the same position.

“It’s a hard, hard thing for doctors to say to patients [that they make take industrial action] and I would not like to think it would lead to the cancellation of operations. But they are no different from other professions out there which are fighting for their pensions.”

The BMA has now formally written to the UK government rejecting the “final” offer and urging ministers to meet unions to agree “fairer” changes.

The association said it would work up detailed plans on industrial action, adding that all attempts would be made to ensure that any action would minimise any risk of harm to patients.

An emergency meeting of BMA Council will be held on 25 February to decide on the options for balloting on industrial action, unless there is a “significant” change in the government’s position.

While pension reform is a matter reserved for Westminster, the BMA is calling on the Scottish Government to intervene, urging it to negotiate with unions before making its final offer on reforms to the Scottish NHS Pension Scheme.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Occupational pensions are a reserved matter and the UK government is able to exercise a high degree of control over public-sector schemes in Scotland, including the NHS – just as it has done in increasing employee contributions from April, a move opposed by the Scottish Government.”

The last time doctors took industrial action was in 1975, when consultants suspended goodwill activities and worked to contract over a contractual dispute, and junior doctors also took action.