SPECIALIST doctors warned today that they will ballot for strike action if talks with the government in their long-running dispute over pay and working conditions remain “stagnant.”

Specialist, associate specialist and speciality (SAS) members of the British Medical Association (BMA) in England have already overwhelmingly backed strikes in an indicative ballot.

The union said it would conduct a formal ballot if Health Secretary Steve Barclay fails to make “real progress with us” by November 6.

Chairwoman Dr Ujjwala Mohite said: “The BMA is more than willing to continue talking to the government about SAS doctors’ concerns. We don’t want to have to take industrial action and remain hopeful that this next step will lead to detailed and meaningful progress.

“The government cannot ignore the strength of feeling on the ground, however.”

She pointed out that “overworked and exhausted” SAS doctors have suffered real-terms pay cuts of as much as 31 per cent due to NHS underinvestment over the past 15 years.

They have had enough of “not being properly valued for the vital work they do” and are being pushed to reduce their hours or leave altogether, putting patient safety at risk and increasing pressure on the health service, Dr Mohite said.

“That’s why, with four months of stagnant talks behind us so far, we must be prepared to take the next step and ballot for industrial action if we absolutely have to — and we will do this on November 6 if upcoming negotiations fail to achieve anything for our profession,” she added.

Most SAS doctors work in hospitals, alongside junior doctors and consultants, but some work in the community.

The Department for Health and Social Care said: “We are pleased that the BMA SAS committee has decided to delay moving to a formal ballot to allow time for talks.

“We have been clear headline pay will not be on the table. Doctors have already received a fair and reasonable pay rise as recommended by the independent pay review body, which we’ve accepted in full.”