GPs vote for strike

By Caroline Price

GPs have voted in support of industrial action in the ballot over pensions, the BMA has announced.

On a 53% turnout, 79% of GPs voted in favour of industrial action short of a strike and 63% also voted 'yes' to taking part in a strike.

BMA Council is meeting this afternoon to decide on the next steps, but has emphasized that any strike action will not harm patients as all emergency and urgent care will still be delivered.

The majority of doctors from all other branches of practice also voted 'yes', 'yes' in the ballot, with the exception of occupational medicine doctors who rejected both options.

Overall, 52,250 doctors took part in the ballot, giving a 50% turnout, with 84% voting in favour of industrial action and 72% backing full strike action.

The highest turnout of 56% was seen among Consultants, of whom 73% voted in favour of a strike, while 82% of junior doctors voted 'yes' to a full strike on a 39% turnout.

In the event of a full strike, GP practices will remain open for urgent care but routine appointments will be cancelled.

Director of NHS Employers Dean Royles said: "As the BMA Council now meet I really want them to put patients at the centre of their decision making. They know that any industrial action will impact on care and cause distress and disruption to patients and undermine trust and confidence in the medical profession."

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