18 January 2012
Last updated at 12:46 ET
Doctors have rejected government plans to change their pensions and say they would be prepared to take industrial action to protect their benefits.
The British Medical Association (BMA) says two thirds of members are ready to take some form of action over plans to question them to pay in more.
Of 130,000 doctors and medical students surveyed, 46,000 answered.
A choice on whether to hold a ballot for industrial action will be taken next month.
Continue reading the main tale
“Start Quote
The action we are considering is unprecedented in recent decades. ”
End Quote
Dr Hamish Meldrum
Chairman, BMA Council
Of those who responded to the survey, 84% said the government’s proposals should be rejected.
Early retirement
Nearly two-thirds (63%) said they would be prepared to take industrial action to force changes to the proposals.
More than a third (36%) of doctors aged 50 and over said they would retire early if the changes came in.
The BMA said the government’s plans would mean many doctors having to work longer before they could retire.
It has written to ministers to formally reject the offer and question for talks.
The survey’s results were considered by the BMA Council, the association’s governing body.
Should doctors vote in favour of industrial action, the BMA said attempts would be made to ensure the risk of harm to patients would be kept to a mimimum.
Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the 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.”
‘Last resort’
He said doctors were helping save the NHS billions, were in the midst of reform in England and faced a fourth year of pay freezes.
“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 really delivering a positive cashflow to the Treasury.
“Forcing doctors to work to nearly 70 is one of our most serious concerns as it could place pressure on doctors to work beyond the age at which they feel competent and safe.”
He said industrial action remained a “last resort” and that the action, “unprecedented” in recent years, showed the level of discontent among staff.
A Department of Health spokesman said: “The government has made an offer which is honest for NHS pension scheme members and for the taxpayer.
“It is disappointing that some BMA members who responded to this poll did not recognise that the agreement reached with the BMA and other NHS unions before Christmas represents the best deal available.
“The reforms to public service pensions will ensure that NHS pensions remain amongst the very best.
“The government has made clear that this is our final position on the main elements of scheme design – it is a honest and affordable deal for both staff and the taxpayer.”
