Consultants pocket £6,450 per shift covering strikes

Consultants preparing to vote on industrial action have reportedly earned substantial sums, with one shift payment reaching £6,450. These payments were made for covering shifts during junior doctor strikes, which have occurred 15 times since March 2023 and cost the NHS over £3 billion. MPs have criticized these payments as hypocritical and exploitative, with some consultants receiving more for one day's work than many families earn in months.

Recent disclosures reveal hourly rates as high as £240, with additional holiday pay. Other consultants received £4,800 for 24-hour shifts, and one was paid £300 per hour for a 16-hour weekend shift. These rates far exceed normal expectations, even for consultants earning a basic salary of at least £113,000, which can rise to £151,000 for more experienced doctors.

The British Medical Association (BMA) has encouraged consultants to negotiate higher rates for covering these shifts, providing a 'rate card' with suggested fees, including over £300 an hour for overnight work. NHS England has advised hospital trusts against using these inflated rates, calling industrial action a 'lose-lose situation' for patients and taxpayers.

Consultants have also previously staged their own strikes. They are currently balloting on further industrial action, with the ballot closing on July 6. Meanwhile, the BMA is polling resident doctors on whether to accept a new pay offer, which includes a 1.7% increase next year, potentially boosting average resident doctor pay by 35.2% compared to four years ago.