Northern Trust prepares for two days of doctors’ strikes disruption as pay dispute deepens
Saturday 24 October 2026
The Northern Health and Social Care Trust is preparing for two days of industrial action by hospital doctors next month, amid an ongoing dispute over pay and concerns about the potential impact on patients.
Speaking at a meeting of the Trust board at Antrim Area Hospital on Thursday, interim chief executive Suzanne Pullins advised members that the British Medical Association (BMA) had notified the Trust of planned industrial action on 20 and 23 November.
Resident doctors are scheduled to begin a 24-hour walkout at 7am on Friday 20 November, ending at 7am on Saturday 21 November.
Consultants and specialist, associate specialist and specialty (SAS) doctors are expected to provide only ‘Christmas Day cover’ during a separate 24-hour period of industrial action, beginning at 7am on Monday 23 November and ending at 7am on Tuesday 24 November.
Christmas Day cover means urgent and emergency services will continue to operate, although routine appointments and planned procedures could face disruption.
Doctors demand progress on pay restoration
BMA Northern Ireland said the announcement followed efforts to engage with Health Minister Robbie Butler over “finding a way forward on resolving stagnating pay amid increasing demand on Northern Ireland’s health service”.
The union has warned that industrial action could escalate further unless “meaningful progress on restoring pay” is achieved.
BMA Northern Ireland's specialist, associate specialist and specialty doctors committee chair, Clodagh Corrigan, said:
“We have been clear: to avoid further industrial action, we need a credible offer from government that makes meaningful progress towards full pay restoration.
“We met with the new health minister recently, hopeful that we could begin fresh discussions on agreeing a credible pay offer. Regrettably, this did not happen.
“The minister was also unable to confirm if the minimum annual pay uplift for 2026/27 – one that has already been paid to doctors elsewhere in the UK – would be paid this side of Christmas, or indeed at all. We were informed that the decision ultimately lay with the Executive.”
Health Minister warns of impact on patients
Health Minister Robbie Butler acknowledged the frustration among healthcare staff but said financial pressures and the absence of an agreed departmental budget were preventing him from implementing the recommended pay award.
In a statement, Mr Butler said:
“I understand the frustration felt by the BMA, nurses and other HSC staff. They have waited too long for clarity on this year’s pay award, and I recognise why they are planning strike action.
“I remain committed to implementing this year’s pay award as recommended by the independent Doctors’ and Dentists’ Pay Review Body (DDRB) but unfortunately, I am currently unable to do so in the absence of a sufficient budget being agreed for my department.
“When similar strike action took place over two 24-hour periods in June, over 2,200 appointments were cancelled across the system, so the prospect of industrial action during the winter period will have real consequences for patients, waiting lists and service delivery.
“I am very grateful to those who recognise the impacts strike action will have on our population during the winter months, and for their commitment to provide continuity of service.”
Minister outlines financial constraints
The Health Minister said the independent pay review body had recommended a 3.5% increase for doctors in 2026/27, following substantial cumulative increases over the previous three years.
He continued:
“The uplift recommended by the Review Body for 26/27 is 3.5%, which is higher than that for other healthcare professionals working in Health and Social Care (HSC). It comes on top of an average cumulative pay uplifts over the last three years of 30% for resident doctors, 25% for Speciality, Associate Specialist, and Specialist doctors (SAS doctors) and 24% for consultants.
“I recently met with the BMA and outlined the financial constraints facing my department and my intention to progress the pay award as soon as Executive approval is agreed.
“While the BMA has made clear that even the increase of 3.5% will not satisfy their demands, to go beyond the 3.5% as recommended by the independent pay review recommendation would have significant repercussions for nurses, teachers, police officers and indeed the entire public sector workforce.
“I continue to press my Executive colleagues for a swift decision on this issue and will engage with the BMA to seek a resolution to the ongoing dispute driving this action.
“I reiterate my commitment to ensuring all HSC colleagues receive their recommended 26/27 pay uplifts, despite the unprecedented shortfall in my draft budget. I value the workforce above our buildings, beds, equipment and medicines. However, there is no scope for pay awards beyond the recommendations of the review bodies in 26/27.
“Finally, I want to pay a particular tribute to the many doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and exceptional support staff who will continue to deliver care and see patients throughout the two days of planned industrial action.”
Concerns over recruitment and retention
Dr David Farren, chair of the BMA's Northern Ireland consultants committee, said the continuing erosion of doctors' pay was affecting recruitment, retention and the ability of the health service to meet growing demand.
He warned that lower pay rates made it “harder to recruit staff while also driving existing workforce members into retirement or reduced hours, fuelling a staffing crisis at a time when the demand on the health service in Northern Ireland was greater than ever”.
Dr Farren said:
“Pay is central to recruitment and retention of doctors and hinders the delivery of a sustainable and safe health service.
“There is palpable anger among our members at continuing sub-inflationary, late pay awards while we work beyond capacity in under-supported services. This annual uncertainty over when we will actually receive our pay award reinforces the widespread feeling that we are not valued and leads to doctors seeking better paid roles elsewhere.”
Resident doctors describe strikes as last resort
Dr Steven Montgomery, chair of the BMA Northern Ireland resident doctors committee, described industrial action as a “last resort”, but said doctors were prepared to take further action if the dispute remained unresolved.
He said:
“Doctors do not take strike action lightly but again, we have been left with no choice but to stand up for ourselves, our patients and the future of our profession in Northern Ireland.
“If the health minister is serious about transforming the health service, addressing our waiting list crisis and meeting growing patient demand, then he needs to value doctors by paying us fairly for what we do.
“We would again call on the health minister to step in and resolve this dispute with a credible offer to avoid more strikes over the festive period and into next year.”
The planned action comes as Northern Ireland's health service approaches the winter period, when hospitals traditionally face increased demand.
Urgent and emergency care is expected to continue during the strikes, although patients may face disruption to routine appointments and planned procedures.
