DOCTORS have made an overwhelming call to their leaders to reject the government’s proposed changes to the NHS Pension Scheme and shown a willingness to undertake industrial action.
Yesterday a meeting of BMA Council, the association’s governing body, considered the results of a major survey of 130,000 doctors and medical students.
The UK-wide survey received over 46,000 responses – a response rate of 36%.
Over eight in ten (84%) said the latest proposals should be rejected.
Almost two-thirds (63%) said they would personally be prepared to take industrial action to pursue changes to the proposals.
More than a third (36%) of doctors aged 50 and over say they intend to retire early if the changes go ahead.
The BMA has now formally written to the government rejecting the offer and urging them to engage with the BMA and unions representing NHS staff to agree fairer changes.
At the same time, the BMA will work up detailed plans on taking industrial action.
All attempts will be made to ensure that any plans for 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, should there not be a significant change in the government’s position.
Dr Hamish Meldrum, Chairman of BMA Council said: ‘The strength and scale of feeling among doctors is abundantly clear –- they feel let down and betrayed, and for many this is the final straw.
‘Doctors are at the forefront of attempts to save the NHS £20 billion, while trying to protect patient care, are in the midst of huge system reform in England, which is causing chaos in many areas, and are about to enter a fourth successive year of a pay freeze.
‘Now on top of this, they are facing wholesale changes to their pension scheme, which was radically overhauled less than four years ago and is actually delivering a positive cashflow to the Treasury.
‘Forcing doctors to work to almost 70 is one of our most serious concerns as it could put pressure on doctors to work beyond the age at which they feel competent and safe.
‘Industrial action remains a last resort and the government must urgently reconsider its damaging plans.
‘The action we are considering is unprecedented in recent decades. This demonstrates the current level of discontent among NHS staff.’
