BMA rules out doctors’ strike for Scotland

The British Medical Association (BMA) has confirmed that there will be no strike among doctors working at Scottish hospitals over the coming winter.

A ballot of medical professionals failed to deliver a sufficient level of support to provide a legal mandate for the proposed strike action, but the BMA stressed that doctors nevertheless remain dissatisfied with the government's stance on NHS pensions.

Criticism was levelled at the Scottish government for implementing aspects of the UK-wide pension plans, despite its stated opposition to Whitehall-led reforms of this kind and its devolved power to follow a different course of action.

The BMA vowed to carry on fighting for a fairer approach to pensions for Scottish doctors.

Dr Brian Keighley, chairman of the BMA in Scotland, said: "We will continue to lobby and campaign against the unfairness of these pension changes and we will work with the other NHS unions to press for meaningful negotiations in Scotland."

Last week, the organisation responded to the publication of new NHS performance data by praising Scottish doctors for continuing to provide a high standard of care, despite constrained financial circumstances.