The government has announced a 2025–26 pay award of 4% for NHS consultants and SAS doctors in England.
HCSA is now consulting members on whether they are prepared to take industrial action over pay.
Every day, consultants and SAS doctors manage complex cases, make difficult decisions and handle life and death situations. The work we do is not worth less than it was 10 years ago.
We are not worth less.
Consultants have experienced greater pay erosion than any other NHS staff group. The agreement previously negotiated with the government by HCSA and other trade unions was an initial step on the road to reversing pay erosion. Now we need to see further decisive progress.
SAS doctors have been overlooked for too long. For many of us, moving to a new contract after 2021 worsened our pay erosion and multiyear deals left us locked out of national pay awards. It is time for definitive and lasting progress on SAS pay.
The 4% 2025–26 pay award compares to an RPI inflation figure for April of 4.5%. It is in effect a real-terms pay cut for senior doctors.
With average private sector pay rises running at 5.6% according to the ONS, it also risks further undermining the attractiveness of the medical profession.
This consultation will close at 12:00 on 25th June.
The consultation is open now and will close at 12:00 on Wednesday 25th June. It is taking place online.
All eligible members employed by the NHS in England have received a link to vote in the digital consultation. If you cannot locate your link or have any difficulties casting your vote, please contact conspec@hcsa.com.
You are being asked two questions: whether you are prepared to take strike action and whether you are prepared to take industrial action short of strike.
This is not a formal ballot for industrial action. It is a consultative vote by HCSA members to democratically decide our union’s next steps.
Should members indicate that they are prepared to strike and/or take action short of strike, your National Executive Committee will consider a formal ballot for industrial action. Such a ballot would be conducted by post, in accordance with trade union law.
Industrial action short of strike, sometimes called ASOS, could consist of working to rule, refusal to perform certain tasks, refusal of goodwill, deliberately going slow, a call-out ban and/or, when clinical circumstances permit, prioritising educational work over clinical work.
Should members indicate that they are prepared to strike and/or take action short of strike, your National Executive Committee will consider a formal ballot for industrial action. Such a ballot would be conducted by post, in accordance with trade union law.
Should members indicate that they are not prepared to strike or take action short of strike, HCSA will continue to engage through all available channels to press the case to reverse the erosion of senior doctors' pay.
Join HCSA today to take part in this consultation on industrial action.
We encourage you to do so as soon as possible so you can be included in relevant communications.