Doctors to ballot for strike over NHS pensions changes

GPs are set to be balloted on what could become co-ordinated, NHS-wide industrial action against the Government's pension reforms, it has been reported.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has forged a strategic alliance with key health unions, according to Pulse, the GP's trade magazine.

BMA leaders have agreed with 16 other unions representing healthcare workers to plead a special case for the NHS Pension Scheme, with the threat of combined industrial action if ministers refuse to back down.

Delegates at the BMA's annual meeting have also voted to ballot doctors on ‘all forms of industrial action' if the Government presses ahead with its pension plans - in particular, the scrapping of consultants' final-salary scheme.

Pulse reported that any ballot would take place across the medical profession and would likely cover all of the Government's pension proposals, including moves to raise GPs' retirement age to 65 and beyond, and to potentially double contributions.

A BMA spokesperson said: ‘The reason the current NHS scheme is strong is because the health unions stood together and agreed changes in partnership. So the talks we're seeking would be NHS-wide rather than specific to doctors and would acknowledge the unique situation the NHS scheme is in.'

It is unlikely GPs would be expected to take any action that would deny care to patients, and BMA members would not be compelled to take action even if approved by ballot.

Gail Cartmail, assistant general secretary of Unite, said: ‘There needs to be scheme-specific talks. The 17 unions with members in the NHS scheme met very recently and came to that conclusion.

"The health unions have got a very good track record of working together on pensions.'