England's senior doctors plan two-day strike in November

Senior doctors in England plan to go on strike for two days in November, according to the British Medical Association (BMA), the doctors' trade union. The Guardian reported on 26 October 2026 that the action is due to begin at 6:59am on 25 November.

The strike involves consultants, the most senior hospital doctors in the National Health Service (NHS), the publicly funded health service in England. During the strike, only emergency cover will be provided, meaning care for urgent cases.

Before any strike can go ahead, unions must hold a formal vote of their members, known as a ballot. More than three-quarters of the consultants who took part in the BMA ballot voted in favour of strike action.

The planned walkout comes after a pay rise. NHS consultants received a 3.5% pay increase this year, the Guardian reported.